LIBRARY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 
DAVIS 


w  *d  _ 


\/4v 


COPYRIGHT,    1913,    BY  ARNOLD  GENTHE 


PLUM   BLOSSOM. 


THE 

YELLOW  JACKET 

A  Chinese  Play  Done  in  a  Chinese  Manner 
IN  THREE  ACTS 


By 
GEORGE  C.  HAZELTON  AND  BENRIMO 


ILLUSTRATED  WITH  PHOTOGRAPHS 
BY  ARNOLD  GENTHE 


Every  man  must  look  into  the  Garden  of  his  soul  alone. — Act  III 


INDIANAPOLIS 

THE  BOBBS-MERRILL  COMPANY 
PUBLISHERS 


LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

PAVIS 


COPYRIGHT  1913 

GEORGE  C.  HAZELTON,  JR.,  AND  J.  HARRY  BENRIMO 

Protected  in  all  foreign  countries 

and  all  rights,  including  acting,  moving  picture  and  publication. 
I eterved  by  the  authors 


PRESS  OF 

BRAUNWORTH  ft  CO. 

PRINTERS  AND   BOOKB1ND1R8 

^BROOKLYN,   N.  Y. 


r, 

B.  C.  H.  AND  K.  E.  B. 


FOREWORD 

The  purpose  of  the  creators  of  this  play  is  to 
string  on  a  thread  of  universal  philosophy,  love  and 
laughter  the  jade  beads  of  Chinese  theatrical  con 
vention.  Their  effort  has  been  to  reflect  the  spirit 
rather  than  the  substance.  To  do  this,  the  property 
man  had  to  be  overwrought ;  the  Chorus  had  to  be 
introduced.  Signs  usually  indicate  the  scenes  on  the 
Oriental  stage ;  the  Chorus  voices  them  for  us. 

While  the  story  of  THE  YELLOW  JACKET  is  not 
taken  from  any  direct  source,  it  is  hoped  that  it  may 
convey  an  imaginative  suggestion  of  all  sources  and 
reflect  the  childhood  of  drama. 

It  might  be  said  in  a  Chinese  way  that  scenery  is 
as  big  as  your  imagination. 

Primitive  people  the  world  over  begin  to  build 
their  drama  like  the  make-believe  of  children,  and 
the  closer  they  remain  to  the  make-believe  of  chil 
dren  the  more  significant  and  convincing  is  the 

growth  of  their  drama. 

THE  AUTHORS. 


TO  THE  POETS 

To  these  you  have  restored  their  heritage : 
To  humor — loveliness ;  to  undefiled 

Passion — its  splendor ;  to  our  native  stage 
Enchantment  and  the  rapture  of  a  child. 

PERCY  MACKAYE. 


INTRODUCTION 

It  is  with  pleasure  that  I  accept  the  invitation  of 
the  authors  of  THE  YELLOW  JACKET  to  say  a  few 
words  by  way  of  prologue  to  their  play.  In  more 
than  forty  years  of  play-going,  I  have  seen  few  per 
formances  as  interesting  as  that  to  which  they  in 
vited  me.  And  the  interest  of  this  performance  is 
twofold.  It  is  due,  first  of  all,  to  the  charm  of  the 
Oriental  tale  they  have  transplanted  to  our  Occi 
dental  stage  and  to  the  delicate  art  with  which  they 
have  brought  before  us  the  manners  and  customs  of 
a  race  strangely  unlike  ourselves.  Secondly,  the  play 
is  presented,  not  in  accord  with  the  methods  familiar 
nowadays  in  our  own  theaters,  but  in  accord  with 
the  methods  characteristic  of  the  Chinese  theater 
and  therefore  unfamiliar  to  us. 

The  story  of  the  play  is  often  beautiful  in  its  sev 
eral  episodes,  now  poetic,  now  pathetic  and  again 
fantastic.  It  sets  before  us  the  everlasting  appeal  of 
maternal  self-sacrifice;  and  it  presents  the  always- 
sympathetic  figure  of  the  rightful  heir  recovering 
his  place  by  his  own  powers.  It  is  a  story  as  old  as 
the  hills  and  as  young  as  the  spring-time;  and  in 
THE  YELLOW  JACKET  it  is  interpreted  with  imagina 
tion  and  embroidered  with  fancy. 

Interesting  as  the  tale  may  be  in  itself,  it  is  made 
more  interesting  by  the  manner  of  its  presentation. 
The  Chinese  story  is  set  in  action  in  the  Chinese 
fashion,  a  fashion  very  unlike  that  which  now  ob 
tains  on  the  English-speaking  stage — although  not 
altogether  unlike  that  which  prevailed  in  the  play 
houses  of  our  island  ancestors  in  the  spacious  days 
of  Elizabeth.  It  has  been  pointed  out  by  more  than 


INTRODUCTION 

one  critic — and  by  none  more  pertinently  than  the 
late  Francisque  Sarcey — that  the  drama,  like  every 
other  art,  can  exist  only  by  departing  from  the  ac 
tual  facts  of  life.  The  painter  and  the  sculptor  rep 
resent  nature  as  motionless,  though  the  waves  are 
not  still  for  a  moment  and  the  men  and  women  are 
never  immobile.  The  artists  must  depart  from  the 
fact,  because  this  departure  is  a  condition  precedent 
to  their  several  arts.  If  we  are  not  willing  to  permit 
this  violation  of  nature,  if  we  refuse  to  make  this 
bargain,  we  deny  ourselves  the  pleasure  which  the 
painter  and  the  sculptor  can  give  us.  This  is  the 
necessary  convention  on  which  their  arts  repose  and 
without  which  their  arts  can  not  come  into  being. 

The  drama  has  its  necessary  conventions,  its  de 
partures  from  the  actual  fact,  its  violations  of  na 
ture;  and  the  spectators  permit  this  because  they 
would  otherwise  deprive  themselves  of  the  pleasure 
which  only  the  theater  can  give.  In  a  play  every., 
character  must  have  a  compact  utterance,  saying 
many  things  in  few  words.  Every  actor  must  raise 
his  voice  so  that  he  may  be  heard  by  a  thousand 
auditors,  even  though  he  is  supposed  to  be  whisper 
ing.  Every  interior  scene  must  be  deprived  of  one 
wall,  so  that  the  spectators  can  look  into  the  room 
where  the  action  is  supposed  to  be  taking  place. 
Such  elementary  conventions  as  these — implied  con 
tracts  between  the  play-goers  and  the  play-present 
ers — are  absolutely  necessary,  now  and  always,  for 
without  them  the  drama  could  not  exist. 

But  by  the  side  of  these  permanent  and  essential 
conventions,  imperative  in  all  times  and  in  all  places, 


INTRODUCTION 

we  find  at  different  times  and  in  different  places, 
other  conventions  not  really  necessary,  temporary 
only  and  peculiar  to  some  one  time  and  to  some  one 
place.  In  the  Greek  theater  the  actors  wore  tower 
ing  masks ;  and  in  the  French  theaters  long  ago  the 
heroes  of  antiquity  decked  themselves  with  the  full- 
bottomed  wigs  of  Louis  XIV.  These  violations  of 
nature  would  seem  absurd  to  us  nowadays  because 
they  are  unfamiliar ;  but  in  themselves  they  are  not 
more  absurd  than  certain  of  the  unnecessary  con 
ventions  of  our  contemporary  stage  which  we  ac 
cept  unthinkingly  because  we  are  familiar  with  them. 

The  Chinese  theater,  in  its  turn,  has  its  own  con 
ventions  and  traditions,  acceptable  to  the  Oriental 
because  he  is  so  accustomed  to  them  that  they  seem 
to  him  "natural".  But  some  of  these  departures 
from  fact  appear  very  strange,  not  because  they  are 
violations  of  nature,  but  because  they  are  wholly  un 
like  the  departures  from  fact  which  we  accept  be 
cause  we  are  accustomed  to  them.  Very  wisely  have 
the  authors  of  THE  YELLOW  JACKET  set  their  story 
on  the  stage  according  to  the  conventions  and  tradi 
tions  of  the  theater  where  its  several  episodes  were 
originally  exhibited.  They  give  us  a  Chinese  drama, 
dealing  with  Chinese  motives,  and  presented  in  the 
Chinese  manner.  With  a  firm  reliance  on  our  ap 
preciation  of  the  exotic,  they  invite  us  to  smile  at 
conventions  which  seem  to  us  ludicrous  in  the  ex 
treme — and  then,  a  moment  later,  they  summon  us 
to  use  our  imagination  to  curb  our  laughter,  and  to 
let  ourselves  be  taken  captive  by  the  sad  plight  of 
the  human  beings  who  people  their  play.  Their 


INTRODUCTION 

drama  derives  its  double  charm  from  the  tact  and 
the  taste  with  which  they  have  wooed  us  to  enjoy  an 
exotic  theme  frankly  put  before  us  in  an  exotic 

f ashion-  BRANDER  MATTHEWS. 

Columbia  University,  in  the  City  of  New  York. 


CHARACTERS 

Property  Man. 

Chorus. 

Wu  Sin  Yin  (Great  Sound  Language),  Governor  of 
the  Province. 

Due  Jung  Fah  (Fuchsia  Flower),  second  wife  of 
Wu  Sin  Yin. 

Tso  (Fancy  Beauty),  maid  to  Due  Jung  Fah. 

Chee  Moo  (Kind  Mother),  first  wife  of  Wu  Sin 
Yin. 

Tai  Fah  Min  (Great  Painted  Face),  father  of  Due 
Jung  Fah. 

Assistant  Property  Men. 

Suey  Sin  Fah  (Lily  Flower),  wife  of  Lee  Sin  and 
maid  of  the  first  wife,  Chee  Moo. 

Lee  Sin  (First  Farmer). 

Ling  Won  (Spirit). 

Wu  Fah  Din  (Daffodil). 

Yin  Suey  Gong  (Purveyor  of  Hearts). 

Wu  Hoo  Git  (Young  Hero  of  the  Wu  Family),  des 
tined  for  the  Yellow  Jacket. 

See  Quoe  Fah  (Four-Season  Flower). 

Mow  Dan  Fah  (Peony). 

Yong  Soo  Kow  (Hydrangea). 

Chow  Wan  (Autumn  Cloud). 

Moy  Fah  Loy  (Plum  Blossom),  daughter  of  Tai 
Char  Shoong. 

See  Noi  (Nurse),  in  charge  of  Plum  Blossom. 

Tai  Char  Shoong  (Purveyor  of  Tea  to  the  Em 
peror)  . 

The  Widow  Ching. 

Maid. 

Git  Hok  Gar  ( Philosopher  and  Scholar) . 

Kom  Loi  (Spider). 

Loy  Gong  (God  of  Thunder). 


The  Yellow  Jacket  has  been  presented  in 
every  capital  and  metropolis  throughout  the 
civilized  world.  New  York,  London,  Berlin, 
Munich,  Vienna,  Buda-Pesth,  Petrograd,  and 
Moscow  in  turn  have  set  upon  it  the  sea1 
of  their  artistic  and  popular  approval.  In 
literal  truth  The  Yellow  Jacket  may  be  callea 
"The  Play  that  Has  Charmed  the  World." 


THE  YELLOW  JACKET 


THE  YELLOW  JACKET 


ACT  I 

At  the  rise  of  the  theater  curtain  blue  silk  dra 
peries  are  disclosed,  embroidered  unth  gold  drag- 
ons,  forming  a  tableau  curtain.  These  draperies 
are  arranged  to  part  in  the  center.  When  drawn, 
they  hang  in  graceful  folds  on  each  side  of  the 
stage.  The  property  man  enters  indifferently 
from  the  opening  at  center  of  curtain,  strikes 
thrice  on  a  gong  and  exits.  The  Chorus  then 
enters,  bows  right,  left  and  center.  His  costume 
is  that  of  a  rich  Chinese  scholar,  the  dominant 
note  being  red.  His  manner  is  most  dignified. 
His  actions  are  ceremonious. 

CHORUS 

Most  honorable  neighbors,  the  bows,  which  I 
so  humbly  and  solemnly  divest  myself  of,  are 
given  in  reverence  to  the  three  powers — Heaven 
— Earth — Man.  I  have  been  appointed  by  my 
humble  brothers  of  the  Pear  Tree  Garden  to  con 
duct  you  through  a  story  of  our  celestial  land  to 
be  played  upon  our  most  unworthy  stage.  Per 
mit  me  to  thank  that  vice  of  curiosity  which  beck- 

i 


2  THE    YELLOW    JACKET 

oned  you  hither  that  we  might  paint  before  your 
august  eyes  our  humble  fancy.    I  bow. 

Bows  three  times. 

Let  me  intrude  a  slight  history  of  our  most  un 
worthy  theater  and  the  reason  that  we  refer  to  our 
players  as  brothers  of  the  Pear  Tree  Garden.  A 
most  curious  tale — our  beginning!  It  had  its 
birth  in  the  dynasty  of  the  most  wholesome  one, 
the  great  Ming  Wang.  In  reverence  for  so  glori 
ous  a  beginning  we  have  kept  our  stage  ever  the 
same.  For  this  antiquity,  august  and  honorable, 
we  ask  indulgence.  The  good  and  honored  Ming 
Wang,  Son  of  Heaven  and  of  glorious  memory, 
was  visited  by  an  enchanted  dream — full  of 
strange  beauty.  In  sleep  he  rambled  over  the 
moon.  When  the  morning  lifted  his  eyelids  he 
wished  his  wife  to  behold  the  dream-painted 
beauties  which  had  joyed  his  sleep.  The  Court, 
at  his  command,  clothed  in  the  glory  of  his  dream, 
played  the  story  of  his  moon-colored  fancy  be 
neath  the  pear  trees  of  his  summer  palace-yard 
for  her  he  loved.  While  I  fill  up  time  with  many 
words,  my  brothers  are  burning  costly  incense  be 
fore  the  God  of  the  Theater  who,  they  hope,  will 
bountifully  answer  their  prayer  and  make  them 
worthy  to  win  your  approval.  Much  of  our  act- 


THE    YELLOW   JACKET  3 

ing  will  be  strange.  Our  play  deals  with  mother's 
love,  the  love  of  youth,  and  the  hate  of  men, 
which  makes  them  do  unhappy  things.  Spirits  of 
those  who  once  walked  flowery  or  pestilent  paths 
in  this  world  will  reach  out  their  hands  to  suf 
ferers  in  our  history.  We  hope  out  of  our  imper 
fect  efforts  there  may  come  to  you  some  pleasure. 
I  fear  I  have  intruded  too  long  upon  your  wel 
come  and  that  you  are  in  haste  for  my  brothers 
to  begin.  They,  too,  are  impatient,  for  the  per 
fume  of  their  sacrifice  even  now  floats  upon  the 
august  air. 

Men  will  speak  fair  words  with  blackened 
minds.  That  you  may  not  be  carried  away  by 
their  wiles,  we  have  enmasked  them  with  paint — 
red,  white  and  black — that  you  may  know  them; 
but  they  will  never  know  that  you  know  that  their 
souls  are  mirrored  in  their  faces,  for  men  look 
many  times  to  see  themselves,  as  they  are  pleased 
to  see  themselves.  It  is  mostly  so  with  villains. 
As  prompter  for  my  brothers,  I  will  be  ever  be 
fore  you  to  help  you  to  an  understanding  of  our 
doings.  For  so  much  kind  patience  as  you  have 
shown,  I  give  you  thanks  and  shall  tell  my 

brothers. 

Bows  three  times. 


4  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

Observe  well  with  your  eyes  and  listen  well 
with  your  ears.  Be  as  one  family,  exceedingly 
happy  and  content.  Heaven  has  no  mouth.  It 
makes  men  speak  for  it. 

Bells. 

The  gusts  -of  Heaven  breathe  on  the  bells  and 
they  tinkle  with  joy  on  the  eaves  of  the  pagoda. 

Ere  departing  my  footsteps  hence,  let  me  im 
press  upon  you  that  my  property  man  is  to  your 
eyes  intensely  invisible. 

Property  man  now  comes  before  curtain 
again.     Strikes  gong  and  exits. 


I  bow. 


Claps  his  hands  three  times;  curtains  part, 
revealing  a  set  in  dull  orange  with  green 
and  gold  trimmings.  There  are  two 
doors,  one  stage  left  for  entrance  and 
one  stage  right  for  exit.  In  the  center  at 
the  back  is  an  oval  opening  surrounded 
by  a  grill,  within  which  the  musicians 
sit.  Above  this  opening  is  another, 
square  in  form,  which  represents 
Heaven.  About  the  walls  of  the  scene 
are  Chinese  banners  and  signs  of  good 
cheer.  Huge  lanterns  hang  from  above. 
At  the  left  is  a  large  property  box,  and 
above  it  are  chairs,  tables,  cushions,  etc., 
in  fact  all  properties  used  in  the  play. 
Chorus  takes  his  seat  up  center.  Music. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  5 

CHORUS 

Tis  the  palace  of  Wu  Sin  Yin,  the  Great,  a 
most  unhappy  man,  for  he  possesses  two  wives. 
He  comes,  Wu  Sin  Yin,  the  Great. 

The  gong  sounds  and  the  cymbals  crash; 
the  curtain  on  door  left  is  pulled  aside. 

Enter  Wu  Sin  Yin.  He  comes  down 
stage,  then  walks  to  right,  then  to  cen 
ter,  turns  twice  round,  and  seats  himself. 
The  property  man  assists  him  to  arrange 
his  costume,  then  smokes  complacently. 
Wu  Sin  Yin  gazes  solemnly  be j ore  him; 
his  whole  action  on  entrance  is  con 
sciously  done  to  display  his  costume; 
when  seated  he  spreads  his  legs  and 
turns  out  his  toes,  displays  his  finger 
nails  on  his  left  hand,  two  of  which  are 
very  long,  one  being  gilded  and  the 
other  colored  green;  he  fans  himself; 
during  this  business  the  orchestra  plays, 
the  cymbals  crash,  the  drum  rolls  and 
the  wooden  block  is  struck.  The  cymbals 
are  struck  also,  when  he  mentions  the 
name  of  the  Emperor. 

Wu  SIN  YIN 

I  am  the  most  important  personage  in  this  play. 
Therefore,  I  address  you  first.  By  your  gracious 
leave,  with  many  apologies,  I  will  state  in  all  mod 
esty,  for  your  edification  only,  for  of  course  I 
know  who  I  am  and  how  great  and  august  I  am, 


6  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

while  you  are  not  so  favored,  that  I  am  Wu  Sin 
Yin,  the  Great.  I  have  the  third  eye  of  wisdom 
here.  I  shape  the  destiny  with  my  finger-tips  of 
the  people  on  the  Yangtsekiang. 

Sits  in  great  state  fanned  by  attendant. 

I  would  bow  to  you,  but  it  is  beneath  my  dig 
nity.  My  wives  kotow  to  me  in  abject  slavery, 
which  is  as  it  should  be  with  wives.  This  is  my 
sun-kissed  palace  on  the  purple  hill.  Here  by  seal 
and  by  the  red  pencil  on  a  yellow  silken  banner,  I 
hold  my  court  and  issue  my  edicts.  Here  the  ab 
ject  subjects  of  my  province  crawl  to  bring  me 
the  harvest  of  their  labors,  for  it  is  decreed  by 
the  Son  of  Heaven,  our  Celestial  Emperor,  of  the 
Eighth  Dynasty, 

Rises  and  bows  three  times. 

that  they  bring  me  the  fruits  of  their  slavish  me 
nial  toil.  With  all  this  felicity  of  personal  impor 
tance,  I  am  still  augustly  unhappy,  for  I  possess 
two  wives — a  first  wife  and  a  second  wife.  Chee 
Moo,  the  first  wife,  has  a  child  crab-like  and 
spider-formed.  It  was  her  mistake,  not  mine.  I 
have  a  right  divine  to  like  or  dislike  my  wives  at 
pleasure.  Happiness  is  necessary  to  a  great  gov 
ernor  in  order  that  his  menials  may  be  happy  by 


THE    YELLOW   JACKET  7 

reflection,  as  I  am  in  the  presence  of  my  second 
wife,  Due  Jung  Fah,  who  shines  in  the  light  of 
my  favor.  I  must,  in  august  sympathy  for  my 
situation,  delicately  dispose  of  the  first  wife  and 
crooked  child — very  delicately — for  Chee  Moo's 
family  is  powerful;  and,  if  I  beheaded  her  un- 
couthly,  they  might  be  annoyed.  I  must  contrive 
a  secret  and  respectful  and  courteous  departure 
for  her  honorable  soul.  Then  I  may  pass  my 
hours  in  celestial  bliss  with  Due  Jung  Fah,  my 
beautiful  second  one.  How  shall  I  accomplish  it? 
I  am  admonished  of  the  approach  of  my  honored 
second  father-in-law,  Tai  Fah  Min,  who  is  wisely 
virtuous  and  will  advise  me. 

On  exit  curtain  at  right  door  is  lifted  and 
the  orchestra  plays  until  the  curtain 
falls.  The  property  man  removes  the 
chair  and  places  it  left  among  other 
properties. 

CHORUS 

'Tis  the  garden  of  Due  Jung  Fah,  the  second 
wife  of  Wu  Sin  Yin,  the  Great. 

Enter  Due  Jung  Fah  followed  by  her  maid, 
Tso,  door  left.  Both  hold  their  fans  be 
fore  their  faces  and  walk  with  mincing 
steps  to  center,  during  music.  Due  Jung 
Fah  keeps  always  a  little  in  advance  of 
Tso. 


8  THE    YELLOW   JACKET 

DUE  JUNG  FAH 

Gentle  listeners,  here  in  my  garden,  with  cere 
monial  bow,  I  tell  you,  I  am  Due  Jung  Fah,  most 
unhappy  of  ladies.  I  am  the  second  wife  of  Wu 
Sin  Yin,  the  Great.  There  would  be  music  in  my 
heart  if  it  were  not  for  the  first  wife.  The  but 
terflies  and  bees  and  the  humming-birds  do  not 
come  to  my  garden.  They  fly  to  make  hers  beau 
tiful. 

To  Tso. 

Interrupt  me  not.  The  gold-fish  die  in  my  lily 
ponds  and  swim  sun-kissed  in  Chee  Moo's  across 
the  wall.  Where  she  walks  with  her  monkey- 
faced  child,  the  hyacinths  bloom,  the  purple  wis 
taria  and  the  white  jasmine  fill  the  air  with  fra 
grance  for  her  painted  nostrils.  I  breathe  and 
breathe,  and  the  air  is  heavy  with  death  of  flow 
ers.  Oh,  oh,  even  the  lanterns  in  her  evening 
walk  brighten  her  path,  while  mine  fade  and  I 
stumble. 

Stops  Tso,  who  would  speak. 

Tell  me  not.  I  marvel  that  any  one  should  do 
her  homage.  My  mind  is  crowded  with  thoughts 
of  her  cripple  monster-child,  for  my  soul  has  not 


Tso. 


THE    YELLOW   JACKET  9 

given  forth  a  child-seed.    The  air  is  filled  with  the 
approach  of  some  one.    Let  us  depart. 

As  Due  Jung  Fah  exits  door  right,  music. 

Tso 

Returns  to  center. 

No  one  comes.  The  opportunity  was  not  per 
mitted  me  to  tell  you  truly  that  I  am  Tso,  the 
maid  of  Due  Jung  Fah.  When  I  met  you  my  mis 
tress  wanted  to  unburden  her  august  soul  to  you. 
Though  I  was  filled  with  sky  words,  I  am  too 
adroit  to  talk  when  she  wishes  to.  I  am  the  dust 
in  the  sunbeam.  I  am  one  of  the  darkest  shadows 
of  our  play.  It  is  the  modest  little  maid  whose 
manner  is  filled  with  sunlight  that  throws  the 
prettiest  little  shadows  of  the  dark.  Innocence 
makes  the  best  play-shadow.  The  night  shadow 
has  no  danger,  for  you  see  it  as  you  pass.  Sweet 
little  flitting  shadows  like  mine  trip  you  in  your 
path.  I  threw  a  tiny  rainbow  shadow  across  Due 
Jung  Fah's  eyes  which  looked  like  the  first  wife  in 
her  richest  jewels  and  prettiest  gown ;  and  then  a 
big  thunder-cloud  shadow  across  the  eyes  of  Wu 
Sin  Yin,  and  the  cloud  took  on  the  image  of  his 
twisted  child.  If  Chee  Moo  is  gently  disposed  of, 
Due  Jung  Fah  becomes  the  first  wife  and  I  be- 


io  THE    YELLOW   JACKET 

come  the  first  maid.  The  first  maid,  Suey  Sin 
Fah,  faints  at  the  incense  of  some  flowers.  Lee 
Sin,  her  husband,  deserves  a  wife  more  brave. 
Why  not  a  gentle  little  shadow  ? 

Exits.    Music. 
CHORUS 

'Tis  a  road  leading  to  the  palace  of  Wu  Sin 
Yin,  the  Great.  He  comes,  Tai  Fah  Min! 
mounted  on  his  milk-white  steed ! 

Loud  crash  of  cymbals:  curtain  on  door 
left  is  lifted  and  Tai  Fah  Min  enters 
followed  by  two  men;  he  carries  a  whip 
and  does  pantomime  of  riding  and  driv 
ing  a  horse;  one  of  the  men  who  fol 
low  him  carries  a  banner  inscribed  with 
Chinese  characters;  this  banner  is  red; 
the  other  carries  a  large  fan  on  a  stick; 
he  comes  down  to  left,  then  crosses 
right,  then  to  center;  goes  through  busi 
ness  of  dismounting  his  horse,  throw 
ing  his  leg  high  in  the  air;  the  property 
man  assists  him  and  helps  his  man  hold 
his  supposed  horse;  he  lays  his  whip  on 
the  ground  behind  him;  during  all  this, 
music. 

The  supernumeraries  retire  up  stage  with 
supposed  horse.  Tai  Fah  Min  pivots  on 
one  foot,  takes  out  his  fan,  which  is  car 
ried  at  the  back  of  his  neck,  and  bows 
three  times  to  the  audience.  Gongs. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  n 

TAI  FAH  MIN 

My  horse!  Remove  him!  He  must  not  hear 
the  secret  thoughts  of  his  master.  Tai  Fah  Min 
is  my  name.  I  come  from  the  Southland,  where 
the  sun  kisses  the  hilltops.  I  rule  a  province 
there  as  rich  as  the  one  of  him  I  come  to  visit.  I 
bow  to  you, 

Bows  three  times. 

risking  my  dignity  in  doing  so.  A  father's  love 
hastens  me  hither,  for  I  am  the  parent  of  the 
most  wretched  of  ladies,  the  second  wife  of  the 
celestial  governor  of  this  province,  Wu  Sin  Yin, 
the  Great.  Chee  Moo,  the  first  wife*  and  her 
monster-born  child  stand  between  my  beautiful 
daughter,  Due  Jung  Fah,  and  her  husband.  No 
one  will  envy  her  dead.  Whatever  pathway  a 
father  finds  to  give  happiness  to  a  daughter  is  not 
offensive  to  the  gods.  This  province  is  too  crowd 
ed  with  august  wives,  and  the  honorable  Chee 
Moo,  the  first  wife,  and  her  dragon-eyed  child, 
should  be  generous  to  others  who  need  the  celes 
tial  air  they  breathe.  Due  Jung  Fah,  my  daughter, 
will  then  be  all  and  I  will  be  all.  This  is  the  road 
to  the  palace. 

To  attendants. 


12  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

Bring  back  my  sublime  horse!    Attend  me  on 
foot. 

Property  man  brings  forward  the  sup 
posed  horse  and  he  goes  through  the 
pantomime  of  mounting;  they  assist 
him,  property  man  picks  up  whip  and 
hands  it  to  him;  he  beats  the  supposed 
horse.  Exit  Tai  Fah  Min  and  attend 
ants;  door  right. 

The  property  man  noiv  places  a  table  cen 
ter ',  which  he  carries  from  left,  places  a 
red  cover  on  it;  then  two  chairs  on 
either  side,  which  he  also  covers  with  a 
red  cloth,  and  puts  a  small  stool  on  each. 

CHORUS 

Tis  a  room  in  the  palace  of  Wu  Sin  Yin,  the 
Great. 

Enter  door  left,  Wu  Sin  Yin.  Attended 
by  a  man  with  a  fan,  he  seats  himself  in 
chair  right  of  table;  his  dress  is  ar 
ranged  as  before  by  property  man,  etc.; 
during  this,  music.  Enter  attendant 
with  Tai  Fah  Mins  card  and  kneels. 
After  Wu  Sin  Yin  is  seated,  enter  Tai 
Fah  Min,  attended  by  a  man  with  a  fan. 
Wu  Sin  Yin  rises,  pivots  on  right  foot 
once,  then  clasps  his  hands,  opens  his 
fan,  which  he  takes  from  back  of  neck, 
and  seats  himself.  Tai  Fah  Min  does 
the  same  business  and  seats  himself  left 
of  table. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  13 

Wu  SIN  YIN 

Tai  Fah  Min,  my  exalted  second  father-in- 
law,  I  receive  you  into  my  palace  and  presence 
with  exuberance  of  fancy.  My  beloved  second 
father-in-law  may  assume  that  Wu  Sin  Yin,  the 
Great,  has  bowed  to  him  with  filial  obeisance. 

TAI  FAH  MIN 

And  my  celestial  son-in-law  may  felicitate  him 
self  with  the  glorious  fancy  that  his  second 
father-in-law  also  has  bowed.  The  palace  of 
the  great  Wu  Sin  Yin  breathes  incense  of  happi 
ness.  The  gods  smiled  and  it  rose  like  a  flower 
from  the  earth  for  the  habitation  of  our  master. 
The  teak-wood  was  carved  by  moon-rays  danc 
ing  on  its  surface,  the  rugs  were  woven  by  hum 
ming-bird  beaks  as  they  played  hide-and-seek 
with  their  love-mates  among  the  silken  threads 
pn  the  loom.  The  gods — 

Wu  SIN  YIN 

Ah,  Tai  Fah  Min,  my  Tai  Fah  Min,  you  exag 
gerate  the  magnificence  of  my  palace  by  compli 
ments  of  great  length.  It  is  most  humble.  The 
beauties  of  my  mind  are  enmeshed  by  the  threads 
of  evil  woven  there  by  the  spider's  art,  else  why 


14  THE    YELLOW   JACKET 

should  I,  Wu  Sin  Yin,  the  Great,  be  the  most  un 
happy  of  men? 

Property  man  here  comes  forward  with 
tray  on  which  are  two  cups;  he  places 
them  on  the  table. 

TAI  FAH  MIN 
The  most  radiantly  happy ! 

Wu  SIN  YIN 

Ah,  if  your  daughter  were  only  my  first  wife 
— not  my  second,  my  Tai  Fah  Min. 

TAI  FAH  MIN 

My  daughter  dare  not  look  so  high.  She  has 
not  yet  reached  that  great  state — motherhood. 

Wu  SIN  YIN 

I  must  have  advice  that  brings  unclouded  to  my 
arms  and  lips,  the  rosy  lotus  lips  and  arms  of  Due 
Jung  Fah.  Advise  me  my  way,  Tai  Fah  Min. 

TAI  FAH  MIN 
My  brain  speaks,  but  my  heart  stands  still. 

Wu  SIN  YIN 
Who  could  guide  me  better  than  my  second 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  15 

father-in-law,  who  has  such  interest  in  my  af 
fairs  ? 

TAI  FAH  MIN 

Anxiously: 

I  speak.  The  first  wife,  Chee  Moo,  stands  in 
the  hate  of  your  subjects,  because  the  child  she 
bore  was  cramped,  crab-like,  monstrous  and  un 
wise  in  its  likenesses  of  evil.  The  devils  damned 
it  at  its  birth  with — the  monstrosities  of  the — 

Wu  SIN  YIN 

Interrupting: 
Mother's  soul.    Forget  not  that. 

TAI  FAH  MIN 

That  will  save  us  with  your  subjects.  If  it  had 
inherited  the  noble  godlike  spirit  of  the  father, 
Wu  Sin  Yin,  the  common  hordes  would  have  de 
manded  it  for  the  next  ruler.  They  dare  to 
loathe  the  fruits  of  your  body.  Your  scholars 
would  advise  as  I  do,  Wu  Sin  Yin. 

Wu  SIN  YIN 
And  that  is — 

TAI  FAH  MIN 

Hush!  Let  us  pass  into  another  room  where 
none  may  listen. 


16  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

They  walk  three  times  about  the  stage  and 
stop  each  in  the  other's  place.  Prop 
erty  man  changes  chairs.  Music. 

We  are  safer  here  in  this  isolated  spot.  This 
palatial  room  is  more  fragrant  than  that  we  have 
passed  from. 

Wu  SIN  YIN 

Use  up  no  more  air  in  compliment. 
TAI  FAH  MIN 

We  must  whisper.  No  matter  how  safe  you 
hide  the  egg  the  chicken  will  hatch.  A  sweet 
passing  heavenward  for  the  first  mother  and  the 
child. 

Wu  SIN  YIN 

Gleefully : 

And  Due  Jung  Fah  will  come  to  me  with  no 
shadows  between  us.  But  my  conscience  con 
strains  me. 

TAI  FAH  MIN 

Soothingly: 

Think  on  the  gorgeous  munificence  of  her  fu 
neral  !  To  die  the  wife  of  Wu  Sin  Yin,  the  Great, 
is  like  breathing  zephyrs  of  the  South  as  against 
living  in  a  typhoon.  Think  how  proud  her  fam- 


THE    YELLOW   JACKET  17 

ily  should  be  of  the  ceremonies  as  we  lay  the  first 
wife  with  her  ancestors!  Her  death  will  be  most 
glorious. 

Wu  SIN  YIN 

Can  we  make  her  family  believe  it? 
TAI  FAH  MIN 

It  would  be  deplorably  bad  taste  if  her  family 
did  not  appreciate  the  magnificence  of  the  fu 
neral  that  your  dignity  will  afford  her. 

Wu  SIN  YIN 

A  blind  cat  catches  only  a  dead  rat.  Have  I 
among  my  servants  one  in  dignity  becoming  to 
do  the  deed,  for  we  could  not  leave  it  to  the  public 
executioner? 

TAI  FAH  MIN 

Lee  Sin,  the  farmer, — worthy,  god-favored 
and  properly  menial. 

Wu  SIN  YIN 

Thoughtfully: 
This  farmer  is  strong. 

TAI  FAH  MIN 
He  will  gently  plough  a  furrow  with  his  sword 


18  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

in  Chee  Moo's  neck,  and  the  gods  will  smile  upon 
such  husbandry. 

Wu  SIN  YIN 
Send  for  him ! 

Enter  Tso  door  left,  with  short  strain  of 
music. 

Tso 

Most  august  and  greatest  of  men,  representa 
tive  of  the  Son  of  Heaven :  I  kneel,  bow  and  ask 
that  my  mistress,  Due  Jung  Fah,  your  devoted 
second  wife,  may  speak  with  her  august  lord  and 
husband. 

Wu  SIN  YIN 

Condescendingly : 
My  wife  may  speak  to  her  husband-master. 

Exit  Tso,  after  bowing  to  both  men. 

TAI  FAH  MIN 
See  how  humbly  my  daughter  approaches  you. 

Enter  Due  Jung  Fah,  followed  by  Tso; 
kneels  and  bows  to  Wu  Sin  Yin;  music. 

DUE  JUNG  FAH 
Most  wonderful  and  only  husband  in  the  world, 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  19 

of  whom  even  as  the  second  wife,  I,  Due  Jung 
Fah,  am  most  unworthy. 

Bows. 
Wu  SIN  YIN 

Luscious  one,  I  greet  you.  Rise  and  greet 
your  worthy  and  far-seeing  father,  Tai  Fah  Min ! 

DUE  JUNG  FAH 

I  could  not  bow  to  my  ancestors'  tablets,  much 
less  to  my  noble  father,  before  I  had  bowed  my 
head  in  the  dust  three  times  to  my  gracious  hus 
band. 

Due  Jung  Fah  here  kneels  and  bows  to 
Tai  Fah  Min.    All  rise  and  bow. 

TAI  FAH  MIN 

My  daughter  has  the  modesty  that  Confucius 
praises.  Her  voice  is  low  and  gentle.  Gracious 
and  celestial  one,  pardon  the  emotions  of  the 
greetings  of  a  father  in  your  presence. 

Wu  SIN  YIN 

How  would  you  fancy,  my  Due  Jung  Fah,  as 
first  wife,  to  languish  unclouded  in  the  lavish 
smiles  of  Wu  Sin  Yin,  the  Great? 


20  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

DUE  JUNG  FAH 

But  Chee  Moo,  my  sister,  the  glorious  first 
wife,  lives. 

Pretending  to  be  startled,  looking  from 
one  to  the  other. 

Not  dead !    I  should  faint  of  grief. 
TAI  FAH  MIN 

Aside  to  her: 

Remember  it  is  your  duty  to  fill  your  husband's 
eyes  with  happiness  and  obedience,  that  wifehood 
in  you  may  be  glorious  to  the  end  that  such  a  child 
as  Chee  Moo  bore  shall  not  live  to  rule  in  the 
Flowery  Kingdom.  Wu  Sin  Yin  and  your  father 
ask  it. 

DUE  JUNG  FAH 

I  love  the  province  of  the  august  Wu  Sin  Yin. 
Who  does  the  deed? 

TAI  FAH  MIN 
Lee  Sin,  the  farmer. 

DUE  JUNG  FAH 

I  am  resigned,  if  it  can  not  be  done  more 
gently  with  the  dream-giving  opiates. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  21 

Wu  SIN  YIN 

I  had  the  flowers  about  her  filled  with  the  soft 
est  poison  perfume  that  she  might  breathe  their 
august  exhalations  and  pass  gently  to  the  honor 
able  and  desirable  land  of  dreams.  I  went  as  the 
morning  broke  to  weep  over  her  departed  soul, 
but  it  was  she  who  was  in  tears  over  the  honorable 
departure  of  the  bees  and  butterflies  and  hum 
ming-birds  who  for  love  of  their  mistress  had 
sucked  the  poison  honey  of  the  flowers  and  laid 
themselves  to  rest  for  her  they  loved.  Their  self 
ishness  in  robbing  their  mistress  of  her  eternal 
sleep  was  inexcusable. 

DUE  JUNG  FAH 

I  will  retire  and  pray  seven  days  at  the  tablets 
of  my  ancestors  for  the  soul  of  Chee  Moo  and  her 

child. 

Wu  SIN  YIN 

Your  prayers  shall  cover  but  the  space  of  one 

day. 

DUE  JUNG  FAH 

Wu  Sin  Yin,  the  Great !  I  dwell  in  the  unhap- 
piness  of  my  sister-wife.  Fan  me! 

Exit  Due  Jung  Pah  door  right,  after  bow 
ing  three  times,  followed  by  Tso. 
Music. 


22  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

Wu  SIN  YIN 

Send  for  the  executioner !  I  shake  hands  with 
myself,  Tai  Fah  Min,  and  leave  you. 

Wu  Sin  Yin  clasps  his  hands,  boivs,  opens 
his  fan  and  exits  door  right,  followed  by 
Tai  Fah  Min;  cymbal  and  gong.  Prop 
erty  man  now  removes  chairs  and  table. 

CHORUS 

'Tis  the  garden  of  Chee  Moo,  the  unhappy  first 
wife  of  Wu  Sin  Yin,  the  Great. 

Enter  Chee  Moo  door  left,  with  child, 
which  is  represented  by  a  stick  with 
pieces  of  cloth  wrapped  around  it  and 
hanging  down.  Comes  down  and 
crosses  right.  During  following  speech 
soft  wails  from  orchestra. 

CHEE  Moo 

Oh,  woe  is  me!  Murder  is  in  the  air.  The 
evil  spirits  build  walls  about  me  whichever  way  I 
go.  Now  you  know  that  I  am  Chee  Moo  and  this 
the  child,  Wu  Hoo  Git.  The  devils  put  toads  in 
our  path  to  croak  and  awake  him  that  he  might 
cry  out  and  reveal  us ;  bats  in  the  air  follow  us  by 
night  and  hang  their  great  withered  wings  from 
the  rafters  of  Heaven,  like  a  dead  forest,  to  im- 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  23 

pede  us  by  day.  My  boy,  my  pretty  boy!  whom 
evil  plotters  call  cripple  and  monster- formed  but 
who,  as  you  see,  is  celestially  beautiful.  Let 
your  baby  dreams  be  a  silent  prayer  to  your  an 
cestors  for  help.  I  will  cry  out  to  them  from  a 
mother's  heart  for  your  protection.  We  will  fly 
to  the  mountains,  the  place  of  the  issuing  clouds, 
where  your  mother  will  weave  fabrics  of  silk  to 
cradle  you  in  and  care  for  you  until  your  baby 
arm  can  wield  a  sword  to  confound  your  enemies. 
The  lantern  of  my  love  hangs  in  the  temple  of  my 
mind,  and  I  pray  you,  my  ancestors,  let  no  unkind 
wind  spirit  or  water  sprite  quench  the  flame  of 

my  child-love. 

Exits  door  right. 

CHORUS 

Tis  a  courtyard  in  the  palace  of  Wu  Sin  Yin, 
the  Great. 

Music.    Enter  Lee  Sin.    Comes  down  left, 
crosses  right  and  bows. 

LEE  SIN 

I  am  Lee  Sin,  the  child  of  the  rice  fields.  The 
chop-sticks  of  the  poor  and  the  chop-sticks  of  the 
rich  await  my  harvest.  I  feed  them  as  the  golden 
pheasant  feeds  its  young.  Where  I  labor  the  god 


24  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

of  the  soil  smiles  on  my  ox  and  me,  for  we  are 
sacred. 

Bows;  prostrates  himself  before  Tai  Fah 
Min,  who  enters  door  left;  loud  crash 
on  cymbals  and  gong. 

TAI  FAH  MIN 
Rise,  Lee  Sin,  I  would  speak. 
LEE  SIN 

Father  of  the  second  wife,  I  bring  you  greet 
ings. 

TAI  FAH  MIN 

Son  of  the  soil,  I  realize  the  dignity  of  your 
greetings. 

LEE  SIN 

Wu  Sin  Yin  bade  me  come.     I  left  my  ox  to 
feed  and  dusted  my  feet  and  came. 

TAI  FAH  MIN 

You  labor  too  hard.    I  would  help  you. 
LEE  SIN 

If  you  took  me  from  my  labor  you  would  rob 
me  of  the  joy  of  living — which  is  my  all. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  25 

TAI  FAH  MIN 

Would  you  add  to  the  gold  in  your  purse,  Lee 
Sin? 

LEE  SIN 

An  avaricious  man  is  like  a  snake  trying  to 
swallow  an  elephant.  I  have  enough — and  that 
is  all  I  need. 

TAI  FAH  MIN 

You  have  a  wife  who  may  think  more  wisely, 
Lee  Sin. 

LEE  SIN 

Suey  Sin  Fah  is  my  wife,  and  maid  to  the 
beautiful  Chee  Moo,  first  wife  of  Wu  Sin  Yin, 
the  Great.  She,  too,  is  happy  and  content,  for 
she  is  good. 

TAI  FAH  MIN 

What  do  you  love  best  in  all  the  world,  Lee 

Sin? 

LEE  SIN 

My  parents  and  my  wife,  the  little  Suey  Sin 
Fah. 

TAI  FAH  MIN 

And  have  you  no  love  for  your  master,  Wu  Sin 
Yin,  the  Great  ? 


26  THE    YELLOW    JACKET 

LEE  SIN 

I  bow  in  the  dust  three  times  to  him.     He 
stands  in  the  place  for  me  of  the  Emperor,  the 

Son  of  Heaven. 

Gongs,  both  bowing. 

TAI  FAH  MIN 

You  would  not  refuse  then  to  do  his  bidding? 
LEE  SIN 

To  refuse  would  mean  my  death,  and  that  I 
would  give  him  for  the  asking. 

TAI  FAH  MIN 
And  if  he  asks  you  to  kill  for  him? 

LEE  SIN 
He  would  not  ask  it. 

TAI  FAH  MIN 

Hands  him  death  order,  represented  by 
tiger's  head  on  a  scroll. 

It  is  the  command  of  the  Son  of  Heaven. 

Gongs  and  both  bow. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  27 

LEE  SIN 

The  tiger's  head !  What  criminal  name  is  pen 
ciled  on  the  gaping  mouth?  My  eyes  are  like 
swords  danced  upon  by  evil  spirits.  I  can  not 
see.  Chee  Moo,  my  wife's  dearest  mistress,  and 
the  child !  I  can  not  kill  them.  I  will  go  to  my 

ancestors  first. 

Drops  scroll. 
TAI  FAH  MIN 

Then  Suey  Sin  Fah  will  go  with  you. 
LEE  SIN 

Why  does  not  the  public  executioner  wreak  his 
master's  impatience  on  the  head  of  Chee  Moo? 
He  is  skilled  in  killing  first  wives. 

TAI  FAH  MIN 

It  must  be  a  quiet  and  merciful  affair,  other 
wise  it  might  become  a  scandal.  Her  family 
should  congratulate  her  on  the  release  of  her  suf 
fering  soul,  for  those  beheaded  or  strangled  are 
free  from  suffering,  but  wives'  families  are 
strangely  inconsiderate. 

LEE  SIN 

He  that  rids  his  house  of  an  evil  had  better  suf 
fer  the  evil  than  tell  the  world. 


28  THE    YELLOW   JACKET 

TAI  FAH  MIN 

I  am  going  to  Wu  Sin  Yin  to  drink  delicious 
tea.    Bring  us  the  head  of  Chee  Moo. 

Exit  Tai  Fah  Min  door  right,  fanning 
himself.  Screeching  sound  played  on 
instruments. 


LEE  SIN 
The  tiger's  head! 


Picks  up  scrvll. 


Ancestors,  save  me.  An  hour  ago  my  ox  and  I 
were  happy.  The  soft  breeze  on  the  rice  fields 
brought  us  the  music  of  Heaven.  An  instant, 
and  the  typhoon  comes  with  a  word,  and  the  land 
is  bleak,  and  death  hovers  where  the  sun-rays 
played.  This  is  the  evil  moon  wrought  by  man's 
mischief.  He  is  not  content  and  will  not  suffer 
his  poorest  neighbors  to  be  content.  The  tiger's 
head !  I  must  do  the  murder  to  save  my  wife,  lit 
tle  Suey  Sin  Fah. 

Enter  Suey  Sin  Fah,  door  left.     Music. 
Comes  down  left,  bows  three  times. 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 

May  I  be  permitted  to  tell  this  august  worthy 
audience — to  whom  I  bow,  for  it  is  my  business 


COPY*  GHT. 


THK   FARMER. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  29 

to  be  humble, — being  both  a  maid  and  a  wife, — 
for  I  am  the  maid  of  the  august  gracious  Chee 
Moo,  the  first  wife,  and  the  wife  of  the  god-loved 
farmer,  Lee  Sin. 

LEE  SIN 

Back  to  her. 

And  like  to  be  the  widow  of  that  same  Lee  Sin, 
for  the  evil  spirits  encircle  him. 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 

I  pray  my  ancestors  that  I  may  not  be  maid 
and  widow  at  one  time.  Your  eyes  roll.  What 
demon  spirits  clutch  your  heart,  my  husband, 
Lee  Sin  ?  The  veins  in  your  forehead  burst,  your 
hands  twitch  with  the  wrenchings  of  the  evil  one. 

Violent  beating  on  gong  and  crash  of  cym 
bals. 

LEE  SIN 

Shows  her  scroll. 

The  tiger's  head  with  a  name  upon  its  tongue. 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 
Not  yours,  Lee  Sin,  my  love,  not  yours ! 

LEE  SIN 
Chee  Moo !    I  must  be  her  executioner. 


'go  THE    YELLOW   JACKET 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 

Chee  Moo,  my  august  mistress  in  the  tiger's 
mouth !  Let  us  die  together  and  save  Chee  Moo 
and  the  boy,  who  are  even  now  enchained  pris 
oners  within  the  walls  of  her  flowery  garden  at 
the  displeasure  of  her  unkind  husband. 

LEE  SIN 

I  can  not.  The  tiger !  The  mother  dies  by  the 
sword ;  the  child  deserted  in  the  wolf  land. 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 

Is  this  the  husband  of  my  breast,  is  this  dis 
torted  demon  the  one  to  whom  I  gave  a  wife' 
heart? 

LEE  SIN 

I  bow  to  the  gods  to  tear  all  tender  feelings 
from  me  that  I  may  work  myself  into  an  unkind- 
ness  to  do  Chee  Moo's  murder. 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 

I  love  the  august  Chee  Moo  and  her  beautiful 
child.  She  is  suffering  from  the  machinations  of 
Due  Jung  Fah,  who  is  the  human  spider  in  the 
world-box.  We  must  save  Chee  Moo. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  31 

LEE  SIN 

If  I  obey  not  the  mandate  of  Wu  Sin  Yin,  the 
Great,  your  life  and  mine  will  answer  for  it. 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 

Death  with  our  ancestors  will  be  just  as  sweet 
in  our  love.  The  good  of  the  people  demands  that 
Chee  Moo  live  to  raise  her  boy. 

LEE  SIN 

But  if  I  fail,  Chee  Moo  will  die  the  same  by 
the  hand  of  another  found  to  do  the  work,  as 
others  will  come  to  plough  the  rice  fields  when  I 
and  my  ox  are  dead.  Where  is  the  honorable 

Chee  Moo? 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 

Praying  in  her  prison  to  the  great-eyed  god  for 
the  soul  of  her  boy,  Wu  Hoo  Git. 

LEE  SIN 
What  am  I  to  do? 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 

Kill  little  Tso,  and  pass  her  off  for  the  august 

Chee  Moo. 

LEE  SIN 

Suspiciously: 


32  THE    YELLOW   JACKET 

You  are  jealous  of  little  Tso. 
SUEY  SIN  FAH 

Tso  is  a  fox  and  makes  mischief  for  us  all. 
She  dreams  black  plots  at  night  and  whispers 
them  in  the  willing  ears  of  Due  Jung  Fah.  The 
gods  smile  when  a  bad  being  is  killed,  for  it  is  so 
rare.  The  good  do  the  dying.  That  makes  them 
good. 

LEE  SIN 

But  Tso  does  not  look  like  Chee  Moo.  We 
should  fail. 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 

Business. 

The  sword  that  takes  this  from  this — can  slash 
this  out  of  semblance. 

Business  taking  pin  from  her  hair. 

Pin  this  in  her  hair.    I  took  it  from  my  mistress' 
head-dress.    Where  are  you  going? 

LEE  SIN 

After  my  august  sword. 

Exeunt  Lee  Sin  and  Suey  Sin  Fah,  door 
right.    Enter  door  left,  Tso.    Music. 


COPYRIGHT,   1913,   BY  ARNOLD  QENTHB 

THE  FARMER  AND  His  WIFE. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  33 

Tso 

A  moonbeam  fell  where  the  murder  was  con 
trived.  I  know  all,  for  I  listened.  I  was  behind 
it  and  heard  Wu  Sin  Yin  and  Tai  Fah  Min  plan 
it  all.  There  must  be  moonbeams  somewhere 
when  great  passions  are  working.  If  it  had  been 
a  sunbeam  there  never  could  have  been  a  murder. 

Lee  Sin  enters,  takes  sword  from  property 
man.  Tso  does  not  see  him  at  first.  He 
stands  and  looks  at  her.  She  finally  sees 
him  and  begins  to  flirt. 

I  knew  you  were  here,  Lee  Sin. 

LEE  SIN 

How  could  you  know  ? 
Tso 

A  butterfly  lit  on  my  heart  and  said,  "Beware — 
there  is  a  heart-thief  here." 

LEE  SIN 

The  butterfly  lied.    I  am  married. 
Tso 

That  is  the  whole  trouble  in  the  honorable  au 
gust  world.  All  the  fascinating  men  are  married. 


34  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

LEE  SIN 

Work  not  your  wiles  on  me,  for  I  am  rough, 
honest  and  not  fascinating. 

Tso 

It  is  the  honest  husband  that  falls  first,  for  he 
is  foolish,  and  doesn't  know  or  doesn't  mean  to, 
or  doesn't  know  that  he  wants  to  mean  to.  I  pray 
my  ancestors  not  to  give  me  too  honest  a  husband. 

LEE  SIN 

Aside,  as  he  crosses  to  right: 

She  is  the  evil  thing.  Her  fox  soul  should  be 
released.  I  must  do  it. 

Tso 

You  will  find  the  honorable  Chee  Moo  and  her 
august  monster-child  yonder.  The  light  from  the 
jewel  in  the  forehead  of  her  god-image  will  fall 
upon  the  mortal  spot  and  lead  the  sword. 

LEE  SIN 
How  knew  you  of  my  purpose? 

Tso 
A  tortoise  by  the  pool  told  me.     He  was  so 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  35 

slow  he  overheard  the  plot  in  passing.     Is  your 
honorable  sword  very  sharp? 

LEE  SIN 

As  sharp  as  the  east  wind. 

Tso 
Will  you  hack  her  one  blow  ? 

LEE  SIN 

No  more. 

Tso 

How  long  will  it  take? 

LEE  SIN 

The  time  it  takes  a  lark  to  swallow  a  grass 
hopper. 

Tso  shows  glee. 
Tso 

Where  will  the  sword  cut  ? 

He  walks  up  stage  and  shows  her  at  neck. 
She  shudders. 

Will  it  be  very  hard  on  your  hands  ? 

LEE  SIN 

It  will  be. 


36  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

Tso 
When  will  you  do  the  deed  ? 

LEE  SIN 
Now. 

Business.  Lee  Sin  strikes  at  her  neck  with 
sword.  Property  man  comes  forward 
and  holds  a  red  flag  before  her  face. 

I  am  blind  with  august  blood.     Where  is  the 
head? 

Property  man  throws  a  red  sack  on  the 
stage.  Tso  exits  door  right.  Lee  Sin 
picks  up  red  sack  and  talks  to  it. 

The  remnant  of  a  soul  that  lived !  I  will  clip  the 
ears.  I  will  chop  off  the  honorable  nose.  I  will 
slit  the  precious  eyes — that  drooped  to  my  humble 
eyes  once.  Without  eyes,  ears,  lips  and  nose, 
you,  as  the  first  wife,  Chee  Moo,  are  as  good  as 

any. 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 

Enters  door  left. 

Where  is  the  head?    Show  me  the  head?    Oh, 
woe  is  me;  it  is  my  august  mistress,  Chee  Moo! 

LEE  SIN 
The  fox  maid,  little  Tso! 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  37 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 

It  is  Chee  Moo,  my  mistress,  Chee  Moo! 
LEE  SIN 

My  sword  worked  the  magic.  I  carved  her  to 
look  like  Chee  Moo.  There  is  the  eye  that 
drooped  in  love  to  your  humble  hus'band's. 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 

She  drooped  her  eye  to  you?  I  recognize  it 
now.  She  should  be  dead!  Look  to  your  ex 
alted  sword !  Oxheaded  devils  cling  to  its  blade. 

LEE  SIN 

The  evil  ones  upon  my  blade  mock  her — not 
me,  and  they  shall  mock  at  Wu  Sin  Yin,  for  I 
shall  present  him  with  the  sword  together  with 

her  head. 

Suey  Sin  Fah  pins  jewel  on  the  bag. 

Bid  Chee  Moo  flee  with  her  child. 

Suey  Sin  Fah  exits  door  right. 
LEE  SIN 

The  world  is  fire  lined.  To  my  work — I  drag 
away  the  body,  for  without  its  head  it  is  sweeter 
to  fertilize  a  field  of  poppies. 


38  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

Lee  Sin  goes  through  business  of  picking 
up  supposed  body  and  exits  door  right; 
music;  property  man  now  places  table 
center,  covered  with  red  cloth;  also 
chairs  on  either  side,  which  are  also  cov 
ered  with  red  cloth,  with  stools  on  their 
seats. 

CHORUS 
Tis  the  palace  of  Wu  Sin  Yin,  the  Great. 

Enter  Wu  Sin  Yin,  door  left;  roll  of 
drum;  seats  himself  at  right  of  table. 
Enter  Tai  Fah  Min,  takes  seat  on  left 
of  table;  music  stops.  Property  man 
brings  tray  on  which  are  two  cups  and 
places  the  same  on  table. 

Wu  SIN  YIN 

Is  it  accomplished,  my  Tai  Fah  Min?  Does 
your  daughter  sit  in  the  coveted  place  she  longed 
for? 

TAI  FAH  MIN 

Complacently: 
Let  us  drink  tea. 

Wu  SIN  YIN 

Bring  tea,  and  cups  of  honeysuckle  flowers  and 

rose  petals. 

They  drink. 


THE    YELLOW   JACKET  39 

TAI  FAH  Mm 

It  is  glorious  when  the  bad  die  and  the  good 

live. 

Wu  SIN  YIN 

Glorious !    A  rose  petal  for  my  tea. 

Property  man  pretends  to  deliver  one  with 
chop  sticks. 

Enter  Lee  Sin  door  left,  kneels  and  bows 
three  times  to  Wu  Sin  Yin,  rises  and 
puts  basket  which  he  has  carried  with 
him  on  table,  laying  his  sword  on  top. 

LEE  SIN 

Most  celestial  master,  I  fall  upon  my  knees, 
for  they  hold  me  not.  Her  head  has  been  re 
moved  and  quietness  reigns.  In  the  basket,  my 
honorable  master.  The  august  sword  is  there, 
too,  most  honorable  master.  Forget  not  the  au 
gust  sword. 

Wu  SIN  YIN 

Removes  sword  and  peeks  into  basket. 

Burn  perfumed  incense  as  I  peep  at  it.  You 
have  chopped  off  the  lips  that  I  have  kissed ! 

LEE  SIN 
They  lied,  great  master. 


40  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

Wu  SIN  YIN 
You  have  slit  the  eyes  that  have  blinked  to  me ! 

LEE  SIN 

And  to  others,  great  master. 
Wu  SIN  YIN 

You  have  chopped  off  the  ears  that  have  lis 
tened  to  my  love ! 

LEE  SIN 

They  have  heard  too  much,  great  master. 
TAI  FAH  MIN 

Her  head  to  the  pigs!  Another  honeysuckle 
leaf  for  my  tea ! 

Wu  SIN  YIN 

She  was  my  first  wife.  I'll  bury  the  trunk 
with  august  honor.  Inform  Due  Jung  Fah  that 
I  come.  She  need  pray  no  longer.  My  arms  ache 
for  her,  Tai  Fah  Min. 

Music;  exit  Wu  Sin  Yin,,  followed  by  Tai 
Fah  Miny  door  right. 

LEE  SIN 

With  head. 


THE    YELLOW   JACKET  41 

To  the  pigs!    To  the  pigs  with  the  head,  but 
the  demon  sword  for  the  girdle  of  Wu  Sin  Yin. 

Exit  Lee  Sin,  music,  door  right.  Property 
man  removes  table  and  chairs,  placing 
them  on  stage  left.  Music,  plaintive 
theme. 

CHEE  Moo 

Enters  left  with  child,  as  before.  Down 
center.  | 

To  the  mountains,  where  the  evil  eye  grows 
blind  in  the  pure  air  of  Heaven. 

Enter  spirit,  Ling  Won,  with  roll  of  drum 
at  upper  opening.  Music. 

LING  WON 

i 

And  the  eye  of  Heaven  sees  all. 
CHEE  Moo 

Who  are  you  that  floats  upon  a  fleecy  cloud? 
Are  you  an  executioner  who  bears  a  sword  ? 

LING  WON 

Fear  not,  I  am  the  spirit  of  Wu  Hoo  Git's 
great-grandfather,  the  first  Wu  Hoo  Git. 


42  THE    YELLOW   JACKET 

CHEE  Moo 

Then  the  breath  of  this  child  is  your  own  life 
breeze,  still  playing  on  this  earth.  And  this  is 
the  little  Wu  Hoo  Git,  who  inherits  your  to-day 
and  your  to-morrow. 

LING  WON 

As  I  inherit  his  yesterday  and  his  yesterdays 
before  it.  I  am  the  spirit-self  of  his  great-grand 
mother,  too ;  we  of  yesterday  are  two  in  one. 

CHEE  Moo 
How  mean  you  ? 

LING  WON 

The  land  of  the  dead  is  so  crowded  that  mar 
ried  souls  become  as  one  in  space  and  the  silk 
worms  of  the  dead  land  weave  us  into  one  cocoon 
that  we  may  not  crowd  our  neighbors. 

CHEE  Moo 

Why  does  not  his  great-grandma>ther  speak? 
LING  WON 

It  is  not  so  ordained.  She,  being  the  woman, 
offended  the  ears  of  the  gods — and  her  husband 


THE    YELLOW   JACKET  43 

— with  many  words  when  alive,  so  the  just  gods 
suffer  me  only  to  speak  now  that  we  are  dead. 

CHEE  Moo 

Can  she  hear  and  see  us,  too  ? 
LING  WON 

She  can  hear  and  see  all.  There,  too,  the  gods 
are  just,  for  in  life  the  nights  enamored  me  from 
home  to  listen  to  the  moon-birds  in  the  shadows 
of  the  trees,  while  I  sucked  the  honey  of  the 
night-blooming  cereus  along  the  way,  and  too 
often  the  morning  dawned  while  I  still  drank  in 
the  songs  of  the  women  on  the  flower  boats. 

CHEE  Moo 

And  will  little  Wu  Hoo  Git  live  as  you  do  in 
death? 

LING  WON 

Too  soon  if  you  obey  me  not.    I  come  to  warn 

and  save  him. 

CHEE  Moo 

Who  would  harm  my  little  Wu  Hoo  Git? 

LING  WON 
The  august  Wu  Sin  Yin,  his  father,  even  now 


44  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

sharpens  a  sword  to  cut  the  thread  that  holds  him 
to  this  life. 

CHEE  Moo 

I  dreamed  it  and  so  I  fled. 

LING  WON 

I  sent  that  dream;  little  Wu  Hoo  Git  would 
have  passed  to  us  had  it  not  been  that  his  great- 
grandmother,  the  other  half  of  my  spirit-self, 
sewed  a  stitch  in  the  brain  of  Lee  Sin,  the  farmer, 
so  that  he  could  not  pick  up  the  thread  of  thought 
woven  there  by  Wu  Sin  Yin,  your  husband,  who 
had  ordered  the  murder  of  the  little  Wu  Hoo  Git. 

CHEE  Moo 

Horrified: 

Too  terrible !  Oh,  oh,  I  could  fill  a  crystal  vase 
with  a  mother's  tears. 

LING  WON 

I  come  to  break  the  crystal  vase  of  a  mother's 
tears  that  would  drown  her  boy. 

CHEE  Moo 
What  shall  I  do? 


COPYRIGHT,    1913,    BY  ARNOLD    QENTHE 


CHEE  Moo. 


THE    YELLOW   JACKET  45 

LING  WON 

Send  the  august  Wu  Hoo  Git  on  his  world 

journey  alone. 

CHEE  Moo 

You  would  not  take  the  little  Wu  Hoo  Git,  for 
you  have  a  woman's  heart  within  your  breast  and 
know  a  mother's  meaning. 

LING  WON 

You  must  come  to  us  that  Wu  Hoo  Git  may 
live  to  the  glory  of  the  Emperor. 

CHEE  Moo 

But  he  will  lose  his  way  without  a  mother's 
care  and  love. 

LING  WON 

The  future  is  for  the  gods ;  we  are  spirits  and 
know  only  the  path  back  to  the  moon  whence  he 
came.  His  steps  are  toward  the  sun,  whither  he 

goes. 

CHEE  Moo 

Let  me  go  with  him. 

LING  WON 
Not  so.    Wu  Sin  Yin  would  know  you,  for 


46  THE    YELLOW    JACKET 

you  are  grown.     He  is  so  little  that  he  looks  like 
other  babes  and  may  escape. 

CHEE  Moo 

But  he  needs  a  mother  to  feed  and  look  after 
him. 

LING  WON 

The  ravens  will  feed  him ;  the  eagles  will  show 
him  the  mountain  peaks ;  the  humming-birds  will 
tell  him  the  names  of  the  flowers  along  his  path; 
the  goldfish  will  show  him  whither  the  streams 
flow  straight.  And  a  maiden  will  arise  to  teach 
him  the  story  of  love.  Fear  not.  The  Gods  of 
Mercy  and  of  Love  will  hold  his  hands. 

CHEE  Moo 

My  Wu  Hoo  Git — my  little  Wu  Hoo  Git. 
Your  mother's  heart  melts  for  you. 

LING  WON 

He  will  go  up  and  up  and  up,  till  he  wears  the 
sun-hued  garment. 

CHEE  Moo 
The  sun-hued  garment!    My  Wu  Hoo  Git. 

To  spirit: 


THE    YELLOW   JACKET  47 

Leave  me  not.  My  heaven-descended  son  of 
the  morning  fades  in  my  arms  as  you  fade.  He 
goes  from  me  into  the  glory  of  paleness,  while  I 
cry  out  for  his  peaceful  rest. 

LING  WON 

The  evil  lines  only  wrought  by  demon  cunning 
fade  from  his  cheeks  before  the  light  of  a  new 
soul  day.  The  cramped  and  evil  thoughts  born 
of  his  father's  life  flee  before  the  sword  thrusts 
of  good  thoughts  which  a  mother  marshals  to 

cradle  him. 

CHEE  Moo 

You  go  from  me ! 

LING  WON 

Write  Wu  Hoo  Git's  name  and  history  on  his 
coat  and  come  to  us.  Farewell — we  must  depart 

into  the  shadows. 

Spirit  retires. 
CHEE  Moo 

Leave  me  not — oh,  leave  me  not ! 

Laughing  and  crying: 

Wu  Hoo  Git,  my  Wu  Hoo  Git.  I  am  a  willow 
weeping  over  the  stream  of  my  own  life-blood.  I 
will  write  your  name  on  your  garment  in  a  moth- 


48  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

er's  blood  that  the  life  of  the  mother's  veins  from 
which  you  sprang  may  enter  into  and  become  a 
part  of  your  soul. 

Chee  Moo  here  bites  the  second  finger  of 
her  left  hand  until  the  blood  comes, 
which  she  allows  to  drop  into  the  palm 
of  her  hand;  then  dips  the  finger-nail  of 
her  right  hand  into  the  blood  and  writes 
on  the  white  under-garment  of  the  child, 
sobbing  during  the  speech. 

My  baby — my  boy ! 

Writes: 

This  is  Wu  Hoo  Git,  pure  and  perfect,  now,  de 
creed  to  live  ten  thousand  years.  A  mother's 
tears,  falling  as  rain  from  heaven,  will  fill  the 
valleys  across  his  path  that  his  life-boat  may  float 
from  mountain  peak  to  mountain  peak  and  con 
found  his  enemies  who  follow  after.  More  words 
in  the  mother's  blood — I  grow  weak. 

Ancestors  guard  you, 

Love  embrace  you. 

Stops.    To  spirit,  who  is  gone: 

Will  I  hear  his  baby  cry  and  not  be  able  to  come 
to  him  ?  Must  I  see  the  tears  in  his  baby  eyes  and 
not  be  able  to  wipe  them  away  ? 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  49 

LING  WON 

Outside: 
Yes.    Yes. 

CHEE  Moo 

The  mother  who  would  give  all  and  does  give 
all — the  ink  in  my  veins  runs  out.  Every  drop 

must  go  to  the  boy. 

Writes: 

Be  kind  to  her  who  gives  you  love.  Hope,  pray, 
fight,  live — to  make  others  happy.  The  last  drop, 
— the  last  drop  in  my  veins  to  tell  the  story  of 
my  boy  and  put  a  prayer  on  his  garment.  All — 
my  baby  boy — all !  A  mother's  love !  I  can  not 
let  you  go.  Your  baby  hands  cling  about  my 
heart.  The  light  grows  as  gentle  as  the  light  of 
dreams.  Wu  Hoo  Git — my  baby — my  Wu  Hoo 
Git. 

She  now  becomes  faint  with  the  loss  of 
blood  and  sinks  to  the  stage.  Property 
man  and  his  assistant  bring  ladder  and 
place  it  at  center  of  upper  opening. 
Chee  Moo  rises  and  climbs  up  four 
rungs  of  the  ladder.  Property  man 
holds  ladder. 

CHORUS 
She  climbs  to  Heaven. 


50  THE    YELLOW   JACKET 

Music.  Enter  door  left,  Suey  Sin  Fah, 
followed  by  Lee  Sin;  come  center,  see 
child,  but  take  no  notice  of  ladder  or 
Chee  Moo. 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 

What  babe  is  this  ?    I  see  not  the  mother. 
LEE  SIN 

His  name  is  writ  in  blood  upon  his  garment. 
Tis  Wu  Hoo  Git !    We  will  fly  with  him. 

Exeunt  with  child,  door  right 
CHEE  Moo 
On  Heaven  ladder,  climbing  farther  up, 

My  Wu  Hoo  Git !    Your  mother  will  never  see 
you  wear  the  sun-hued  garment,  but  she  will 

know. 

TABLEAU  CURTAIN 

;•%  NOTE.    At  end  of  act,  in  place  of  curtain 

calls,  the  Chorus  comes  before  the  blue 
curtain  and  offers  thanks  in  the  name  of 
the  company. 

CHORUS 

Appearing: 

I  bow  and  thank  you  in  the  name  of  my  broth 
ers  of  the  Pear  Tree  Garden  for  the  kindness  you 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  51 

have  shown.  I  ask  indulgence.  I  would  permit 
them  to  appear  and  voice  their  thanks  did  not  tra 
dition  forbid.  I  shall  tell  them ;  it  will  put  joy  in 
their  hearts.  At  the  close  of  our  story  if  they 
still  stand  in  the  light  of  your  favor,  it  will  please 
me  to  permit  them  to  come  before  you,  if  you  do 
not  adulate  them  too  much  for  their  good.  I  bow. 

Exits. 
CURTAIN 


ACT  II 

After  the  house  curtain  is  taken  up  the  tableau 
curtains  are  slightly  parted  and  the  property  man 
enters.  He  walks  to  extreme  right,  then  to  ex 
treme  left  and  back  to  center,  striking  large  gong; 
then  exits  through  opening  in  tableau  curtains. 
Orchestra  on  stage  plays  short  overture.  At 
crash  of  cymbals  Chorus  appears  before  the  cur 
tains  and  bows  to  right,  left  and  center. 

CHORUS 

I  come  again  because  I  promised.    I  bow  again. 

Bows  three  times. 

You  may  rely  on  my  august  word,  for  I  deal  in 
facts  alone  uncolored  by  fancy.  My  brothers  of 
the  Pear  Tree  Garden  are  not  accountable  to 
truth,  as  they  speak  what  the  author  of  our 
play, — I  will  advise  you  later  of  him, — has  set 
down  for  them  to  speak.  Authors  and  poets  color 
the  truth  by  the  prettiness  of  their  fancy.  I  bow 
to  them,  however,  telling  you  to  beware  of  them, 

52 


THE    YELLOW   JACKET  '53 

for  I  derive  my  opportunity  from  the  soaring  of 
their  imagination  to  present  my  august  self  to 
you.  To  this  extent  authors  are  magnificently 
worthy.  Wu  Sin  Yin,  the  evil  father,  was  unable 
to  kill  his  august  son,  Wu  Hoo  Git.  This  celestial 
young  prince  had  dwelt  twelve  moons,  when  last 
you  heard  his  baby  cry  of  parting  with  his  honor 
able  and  august  mother,  Chee  Moo,  who  took  her 
passage  heavenward  in  your  glorious  presence. 
But  time  has  honorably  pursued  its  venerable  way. 
Wu  Hoo  Git  has  grown  into  youthful  manhood, 
and  stands  at  the  portal  of  flowery  life.  He  must 
pluck  the  azaleas  of  youth  and  observe  them 
wither  at  the  touch  of  his  golden  finger-nails. 
He  must  know  the  temple  of  the  body  before  his 
body  knows  the  temple  of  his  mind. 

Bell  sounds  off. 

The  great  bell  calls  me — as  it  calls  him.  The 
bell-maker  cast  it  of  pure  gold  and  silver,  but  its 
note  proved  brazen.  The  Son  of  Heaven  was  su 
premely  annoyed.  The  bell-maker  recast  it. 
When  the  metal  was  molten,  to  save  her  father's 
life,  for  fear  its  note  might  again  carry  base  tones, 
his  daughter  disposed  of  her  body  by  springing 
into  the  mass  of  white  heat;  so  her  soul  became 
of  the  bell  wrought  by  her  father.  The  metals 


54  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

welded  with  her  spirit,  and  its  tone  was  then  one 
of  virtuous  harmony  and  love.  Wu  Hoo  Git, 
too,  must  pass  through  molten  life,  that  the  fires 
may  purify  his  soul  and  weld  it  into  the  purest 
strain.  I  augustly  bow ;  you  honorably  listen. 

Chorus  turns  his  back  to  audience f  makes 
gesture  with  his  fan.  At  crash  of  cym 
bals,  tableau  curtains  are  drawn. 
Chorus  now  goes  up  to  table,  center. 
Property  man  discovered  seated  on  stool 
in  center  of  stage.  When  music  stops, 
property  man  arises,  indicates  to  Chorus 
that  scene  is  set  and  crosses  to  left. 
Chorus  then  speaks. 

CHORUS 

Tis  the  home  of  Lee  Sin,  the  farmer;  though 
humble  in  appearance,  it  is  crowded  with  riches. 

Music.  Enter  Suey  Sin  Fah,  left.  She 
comes  down  left,  opens  imaginary  door, 
steps  over  the  door-sill,  closes  door, 
crosses  to  center  and  stands  in  front  of 
stool  before  speaking. 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 

It  is  the  twentieth  anniversary  of  the  birth  of 
Wo  Hoo  Git,  who  has  grown  into  beautiful 
manhood.  The  Goddess  of  Mercy — Kuan  Yin 
— she  who  hears  prayers  and  is  the  giver  of 
children — has  given  me  no  baby  of  my  own  to 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  55 

care  for,  but  in  secret  mercy  has  given  me  Wu 
Hoo  Git  to  foster-mother.  When  I  thought  I 
held  a  babe  and  the  breath  of  childhood  was 
sweet,  I  looked  and  the  flower  had  bloomed. 
Youth  sprang  from  my  arm-petals  to  laugh  and 
run  and  play  the  first  games  of  life.  A  few  days 
give  the  first  farewell  to  the  mother's  arms,  a 
few  months  and  the  babe  is  a  babe  no  more,  a 
few  years  and  our  mother  journey  is  done.  We 
look  in  the  mirror  of  the  past  with  the  gray  upon 
our  temples,  and  we  find  strong  arms  to  protect 
us  where  we  had  protected  the  helpless  babe.  The 
boy  runs  away.  He  promises  to  return.  He 
thinks  he  will  return  to  the  mother  breast.  You 
may  think  that  all  is  well  with  Wu  Hoo  Git,  but 
it  is  not  so.  Due  Jung  Fah's  son,  the  Daffodil, 
grown  to  man,  bars  the  way  to  Wu  Hoo  Git  and 
his  world-place.  Like  all  adolescent  boys,  Wu 
Hoo  Git  longs  for  the  world  and  its  dangers.  If 
he  leaves  our  sheltering  care,  he  will  never  return 
to  the  mother  breast  except  in  memory.  I  wor 
ship  my  soul  alone. 

Sits  on  stool,  center.  Music.  Enter  Lee 
Sin,  door  left.  Carries  hoe  over  shoul 
der,  wears  a  beard.  Comes  down  left, 
opens  imaginary  door,  steps  over  sill, 
closes  the  door,  crosses  to  right. 


56  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

LEE  SIN 

Prosperity  is  mine.  My  ox  ploughs  the  field 
and  it  grows  pearly  with  rice.  You  touch  the 
loom  and  it  weaves  rich  fabrics.  We  dwell  in  the 
glory  of  our  beautiful  foster-child. 

Suey  Sin  Fah,  going  to  him,  puts  one  arm 
about  his  neck  and  covers  her  face  with 
the  other  hand. 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 

The  august  Wu  Hoo  Git  has  gone  forever. 
LEE  SIN 

Not  so.  Tell  me  not  so.  I  murdered  for  him. 
Could  a  father  do  more  ? 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 

The  string  of  our  kite  is  broken  and  the  kite 
Jdrops  down  from  its  heaven-kissed  place  past  the 
horizon.  He  is  grown,  and  longs  for  the  paths  of 
pleasure  where  the  way  is  piled  with  hungry  evil 
gods.  He  demands  the  shadows  of  his  past.  He 
cries  for  his  ancestors  and  we  dare  not  give  them 
to  him.  We  must  put  him  from  his  purpose  or 
the  evil-born  son  of  the  second  wife,  Due  Jung 
Fah,  will  pursue  and  slay  him. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  57 

LEE  SIN 

Fear  not!  He  is  not  of  the  common  horde 
whose  palm  is  dulled  to  pleasure  by  hard  toil.  He 
is  august  and  needs  the  luxury  of  the  joy  of  liv 
ing.  The  gods  rain  favors  of  grace  and  beauty 
and  perfumed  paths  on  such  as  he.  Remember 
whence  he  sprang.  His  treasure  chest  is  full  of 
gold  which  the  gods  gave  to  feed  his  glorious 
appetite.  Soon  the  man's  life  journey  to  match 
his  exalted  station  must  call  him. 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 

Still  I  fear.  I  must  wait  by  the  hearthstone, 
where  he  will  never  play  again.  Never  again  will 
he  make  my  knees  his  ancestral  tablets  and  coo  his 
baby  prayer  to  them. 

LEE  SIN 

Neither  spirits  nor  Due  Jung  Fah's  son  can 
harm  him  now. 

Crosses  to  left.    Opens  imaginary  door. 

Look!     He  comes  like  the  sun  over  the  eastern 
hill.    He  brings  a  new  day  to  us. 

'Crosses  to  right  again.     Music.     Enter 
'door  left,  Wu  Hoo  Git. 


58  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Strikes  picture  in  doorway.  Comes  down 
left.  Leaps  over  imaginary  door-sill 
and  crosses  to  center. 

I  am  Wu  Hoo  Git !    I  am  tired  of  classics.    I 
long  for  the  free  air  of  life. 

LEE  SIN 
You  will  not  find  contentment  there. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
Then  where  shall  I  find  contentment  ? 

LEE  SIN 
In  hard  work  and  pure  love. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
And  where  will  I  find  pure  love  ? 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 
In  a  mother's  arms. 

LEE  SIN 
In  a  wife's  embrace. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
The  woman  answers  one  way,  the  man  an- 


THE    YELLOW   JACKET  59 

other.    In  the  world  there  are  many  answers.     I 
must  hear  them  all  to  judge. 

LEE  SIN 
Go  not  from  us.    Be  counseled  by  a  father. 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 
And  by  a  mother's  love. 

.Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Where  is  my  real  mother  waiting  ?  Where  does 
my  real  father  reside  ? 

LEE  SIN 

Confused: 

Our  love  withholds  much  that  you  will  know  in 
time. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

In  time — always  in  time.  I  have  played  hide- 
and-seek  with  the  sun-rays  and  the  moon-rays,  I 
have  laughed  from  the  mountain  peak  at  the  ty 
phoon  sweeping  the  valley  below.  But  when  I 
ask  you  for  my  ancestral  tablets  you  tell  me  to 

wait. 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 

Till  wisdom  comes. 


6o  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Why  should  I  be  denied?  A  babe  knows  its 
mother.  I  demand  my  parents.  I  feel  the  blood 
of  eagles  in  my  veins.  I  demand,  I  say! 

LEE  SIN 
I  can  not. 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 
I  will  not  yet. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
Then  I  go  to  find  them. 

'Goes  up  right  to  door. 

Even  at  the  portals  of  high  Heaven.  My  purse 
is  full,  but  without  my  ancestors,  I  dwell  not  in 
honor. 

LEE  SIN 

The  world  is  large  and  you  k'now  not  the  dan 
gers  that  will  cross  your  stumbling  way. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
I  fear  not.    I  am  grown  to  be  an  august  man. 

'Large  gong.  Music.  Exits  door  right. 
SUEY  SIN  FAH 

'Going  up  toward  door  right. 


THE  YELLOW  JACKET  61 

Wu  Hoo  Git,  my  Wu  Hoo  Git !  Come  back  to 
me!  Oh,  go  not  away,  my  boy!  Rest  here 
cradled  in  my  love.  Permit  me  to  rock  you  to 
sleep  to  the  song  of  gentle  breezes  and  the  tune  of 
tiny  bells. 

LEE  SIN 

Goes  to  Suey  Sin  Fah.  Puts  arm  around 
her. 

He  has  the  call  of  the  world  now  and  must  an 
swer. 

They  exeunt  door  right.  Property  man's 
assistants  place  four  stools  in  a  row 
across  stage  with  spaces  between  them. 
Take  two  stools  from  left  and  place 
them  right  of  stool  which  is  at  center; 
take  one  stool  from  wall  left  and  place  it 
left  of  stool  center.  Property  man  then 
makes  gesture  to  Chorus  and  crosses  to 
left. 

CHORUS 

Rises. 

Tis  the  flowery  way  of  pleasant  evenings.  He 
comes!  Wu  Hoo  Git's  rival,  the  Daffodil,  cod 
dling  his  brain  with  dark  thoughts. 

Sits. 


62  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

Music.  Enter  Daffodil  preceded  by  two 
attendants,  one  carries  large  red  ban 
ner,  the  other  large  fan.  They  stand 
either  side  of  door  left.  He  strikes  at 
titude  in  doorway  with  fan,  turns 
around  slowly  and  as  he  faces  front 
again  property  man  drops  sword  on  bot 
tom  of  property  box.  Expression  of 
pain  crosses  Daffodil's  face.  He  crosses 
to  center.  Property  man  brings  bouquet 
of  flowers  for  him  to  smell,  standing 
left  of  him. 

Wu  FAH  DIN 

I  advise  this  honorable  audience  that  I  am  a 
man,  though  I  possess  a  daffodil  nature.  I  go 
to  view  delightful  embroideries,  but  retard  my 
footsteps,  that  you  may  observe  my  charm.  I 
was  born  great.  Wu  Sin  Yin  was  my  father,  and 
Due  Jung  Fah,  the  second  wife,  my  mother.  A 
wonderful  alliance,  as  I  am  the  superb  result. 

'Property  man  holds  flowers  for  him  to 
smell  again. 

I  am,  therefore,  the  rival  of  Wu  Hoo  Git,  who 
dwells,  it  is  whispered,  in  an  humble  mountain 
home,  whence  he  will  go  forth  to  seek  his  world- 
place.  I  am  not  happy  while  he  dwells  anywhere 
— so  he  must  not  dwell.  He  is  simply  vulgarly 


THE    YELLOW   JACKET  63 

manly,  while  I  possess  feminine  qualities  of  great 
luxuriance. 

Smells  flowers  again.  Property  man 
draws  them  away  from  him  and  puts 
them  in  box  left.  Property  man  then 
sits  and  reads  Chinese  paper. 

I  would  contend  with  him,  man  to  Daffodil,  but  it 
might  break  my  finger-nails  and  establish  a  bad 
precedent.  You  may  think  the  match  unequal, 
because  of  my  delicacy  in  a  contest  with  brawn ; 
but  I  assure  you  that  it  is  not  so.  Craft,  guided 
by  cruelty,  outweighs  vulgar  manliness.  I  must 
contrive  to  destroy  his  honesty  and  cleanness  of 
life. 

Attendant  fans  him  with  large  fan. 

I  will  call  to  my  aid  Yin  Suey  Gong,  whom  you 
will  meet  and  know,  by  the  hump  on  his  back.  I 
will  have  him  present  his  porcelains  to  the  unsus 
pecting  Wu  Hoo  Git.  He  deals  deliciously  in 
porcelains.  He  will  drop  flowers  of  pleasure  in 
Wu  Hoo  Git's  path  that  my  rival  may  inhale  their 
odors  of  vice.  Observe  how  I  contend  with 
brawn. 

Music.  Attendants  go  up  right  and  exeunt. 
Daffodil  goes  up  toward  door  as  he 
speaks. 


64  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

Cut  the  flowers  in  my  path  that  I  may  walk. 

Exits  door  right.  Music  changes.  Enter 
door  left,  Yin  Suey  Gong.  Carries  staff. 
Music  continues  during  speech. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

Comes  down  to  center  bowing. 

I  am  Yin  Suey  Gong  of  the  monkey  form. 
The  air  was  lukewarm  when  I  came,  ghost  clouds 
were  racing  the  wind.  I  was  dusted  by  butterfly 
wings  along  my  path.  Bringing  pleasure  to  the 
owner  of  gold  is  my  business.  A  dragon  yawned 
and  belched  me  forth.  A  tooth  caught  me  and  I 
was  born  cramped  of  back.  I  give  those  who 

were  born  straight 

Chuckles. 

and  august  of  face  the  world's  pleasures.  Then  to 
avenge  myself  on  mother  nature,  who  distorted 
me,  I  pluck  down  their  star  and  delight  in  its  fall. 

Chuckles. 

I  watch  the  flower  lanterns  of  their  vanity  burn 
till  the  ribs  stick  out  like  skeletons.  Then  I  laugh, 
for  they  are  crooked  in  purse  and  without  love. 
I  flatter  them  till  I  have  them  in  my  grasp,  then 
I  mock  at  them,  for  they  are  fools.  I  deal  with 


THE   YELLOW  JACKET  65 

the  fair  and  they  become  crooked-brained.  I  jug 
gle  hearts.  I  toss  them  in  the  air  and  cross  them 
and  dance  them  on  my  finger-tips  and  catch  them 
on  my  upturned  nose.  Sometimes  one  falls  and 
leaves  a  blood  spot  where  it  fell.  Then  I  gurgle 
and  juggle  on,  for  hearts  are  my  currency  and  a 
few  marred  and  broken  ones  are  easily  replaced. 

Wu  FAH  DIN 

Enters,  comes  down  left  and  crosses  to 
right,  dropping  folded  red  paper,  which 
represents  a  Chinese  check.  Backs  up 
stage  to  door  right  as  he  speaks. 

Wu  Hoo  Git  approaches.    Enmesh  him.    Tar 
nish  him.     It  must  be  done  with  perfume,  and 

gently. 

Exits. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

Center. 

I  shall  approach  with  my  arms  full  of  presents 
for  the  adolescent  Wu  Hoo  Git. 

Music.   Enter  Wu  Hoo  Git.    Door  Iff  t. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Coming  down  left. 
WHere  do  I  find  myself? 


66  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

In  the  land  where  the  honey  is  sweet  and  the 
bees  have  lost  their  sting. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
What  is  this  land? 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

Bows  going  up  to  him. 

This  is  the  land  of  perfumed  pleasure.  Where 
the  cups  are  filled  with  silver  rice-wine  and  the 
lips  of  love  are  heavy  with  greetings  and  your 
every  desire  is  answered. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Its  story  has  been  traced  on  a  sweet-meat  jar. 
But  it  is  not  the  land  I  seek,  for  it  tells  not  of  my 
ancestors. 

Moves  a  little  right.    Turns  back  to  audi 
ence. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

You  are  augustly  wise.  You  are  old  and 
learned.  I  bow  to  the  august  magnificence  of 
your  dress,  the  delicacy  of  the  golden  guards  to 


THE    YELLOW   JACKET  67 

your  honorable  finger-nails,  your  wonderful  jew 
elry  of  amber — your  astute  wisdom — 

Wu  Hoo  Git  shuts  eyes  in  delight  at  flat 
tery. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  am  transcendently  wise. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

Your  boots  will  surely  decorate  a  city's  gates 
when  you  have  passed  to  your  ancestors.  You 
are  old  for  your  age.  The  world  and  life  will 
make  you  older.  Dreams  await  you.  I  greet  you 
and  lay  the  world  at  your  feet. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  would  put  you  in  a  seat  of  friendship  beside 

me. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

There  are  only  two  things  to  please  the  taste  of 

an  august  man  like  you. 

Bowing. 

Some  will  tell  you  in  deceit  that  there  are  many 
things  to  please,  but  there  are  only  two. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Only  two  in  the  broad  world,  to  people  my 
pleasure  ? 


68  THE   YELLOW  JACKET 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

Only  two.  You  may  travel,  you  may  study, 
you  may  know,  but  pearly  wine  and  luscious 
women  are  all  that  you  will  find.  Some  far  coun 
tries  boast  of  the  dance,  but  it  is  a  part  of  woman. 
Our  august  land  oft  speaks  in  song,  but  that,  too, 
is  sweet  from  the  lips  of  woman  only.  It  is  not 
the  note  or  string.  It  is  the  lips  that  sing.  To 
know  wine  and  women  is  rarer  far  than  to  know 
classics.  The  great  scholars  know  this 

Bows. 
but  praise  not  my  honesty. 

Turns  away  right. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

You  make  me  wonder.  I  have  learned  philos 
ophy.  But  it  concerns  me  not  in  my  search  for 

my  ancestors. 

Starts  toward  door  right. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

Be  tutored  by  glorious  woman,  the  rims  of 
whose  rice  wine-cups  are  crystallized  with  kisses. 

Moves  away  a  little. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  69 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

What  are  kisses? 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

The  meeting  of  the  pollen  of  two  flowers  that 
float  to  each  other  on  a  heaven-sent  breeze. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Such  an  august  meeting  must  make  the  sweet 
est  incense  for  the  gods. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

It  does — only  the  evil  one  more  often  catches 
the  breath. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
And  why? 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

The  gods  have  others  taste  the  sweets  first  for 
fear  of  poison. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

But  there  can  be  no  poison  in  the  meeting  of 
the  flowers. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 
There  may  be  birth  and  birth  leads  to  death. 


70  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

Music.  During  which  Wu  Hoo  Git 
crosses  to  left.  Listening.  Yin  Suey 
Gong  watches  the  effect  on  him. 

Love  birds,  flowers  of  happiness,  come  to  garden 
your  pleasure.  They  will  teach  you  life,  rarer 
than  philosophy,  richer  than  classics. 

Enter  door  left  four  flower-girls  at  music 
cue.  Strike  picture  in  doorway,  bow 
forward,  then  to  left.  They  cross  and 
stand  above  stools. 

To  your  sale  thrones,  my  princesses  fair! 

Girls  come  to  below  stools,  backs  to  audi 
ence.  They  mount  at  music  cue,  with 
the  help  of  the  assistant  property  men. 
Girls  then  turn  front,  fans  still  before 
their  faces. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
When  music  stops,  crosses  to  center. 

How  modest  they  are !    Fans  before  their  rose 

faces ! 

Looks  at  girls,  delighted. 

I  am  glad  I  came  to  this  world.  It  makes  smil 
ing  in  my  heart. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 
It  has  pleased  many. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  71 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
By  what  charm  do  women  hold  us  enchained? 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 
Wise  men  have  wondered. 

Laughs,  moves  right. 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 
May  I  approach  them  with  my  voice  ? 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

I 
And  get  strange  answers ! 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

How    many    moons    have    passed    since    you 
graced  the  earth  ? 

SEE  QUOE  FAH 

Dropping  fan. 

Sixteen  years  of  moons. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
Put  up  your  fan !    Who  are  you? 

Mow  DAN  FAH 
A  peony  flower. 


7*  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
Then  you  will  fade. 

Mow  DAN  FAH 
Pick  me  while  my  perfume  lasts. 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

You  are  as  dainty  as  the  embroidery  on  an 
Empress's  gown. 

Frightened,  she  puts  fan  over  her  face. 
Wu  Hoo  Git  moves  to  Yin  Suey  Gong. 

May  I  speak  to  the  next  one  ? 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

The  gods  painted  many  that  man  might  choose 

one! 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Starts  to  go  up  right. 
Let  me  go  back  to  philosophy  and  my  ancestors. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

Stopping  him. 
And  never  know  life? 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
To  third  girl,  who  lowers  fan. 


THE   YELLOW  JACKET  73 

She  tipped  her  fan  to  me.  I  saw  her  eyes.  I 
will  wait  and  talk  to  her.  Her  hands  are  like  pen 
ciled  porcelain.  She  has  the  color  of  plum-tree 
buds.  Are  you — just  like  the  other? 

YONO  Soo  Kow 

I  was  kissed  by  a  more  southern  sun. 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Then  two  flowers  met  and  a — a  child  was 

born? 

YONG  Soo  Kow 

You  were  not  one  of  the  flowers ! 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
What  means  she? 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 
A  sunbeam  played  upon  her  hydrangea  lip. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

''Excited: 

And  danced  in  her  eye  and  painted  her  cheek? 
YIN  SUEY  GONG 

You  should  have  been  the  sunbeam.  She  in 
vites  you. 


74  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

Hoo  GIT 


This  was  never  taught  me  in  philosophy.    How 

much  there  is  to  learn  ! 

Indicating  fourth  girl. 

That  one  coughed. 

Sighs. 

Send  her  to  the  Drug  Hall  of  Propitious  Mu 
nificence  for  the  Great  Blessing  Pill,  or  the 
Double  Mystery  Pill,  or  the  Thousand  Gold  Pill 
for  maidens.  I  suffer  to  see  her  suffer. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

Her  cough  is  a  gentle  salutation.  She  fears 
you  may  go  astray  if  you  talk  too  long  to  her 
august  sisters. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Delighted,  whispering: 

Does  she  think  so  much  of  me?  I  like  her. 
She  has  a  mother's  heart. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 
They  all  have  mother-hearts. 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 
I  never  had  a  mother. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  75 

'Crosses  down  center.  Turns  back  to  audi 
ence,  looking  at  girls. 

Now  I  have  four. 

Music.  Girls  sing.  At  end  of  song  short 
dance.  The  girls  turn  around  on  stools 
and  face  front  again.  During  song  Wu 
Hoo  Git  crosses  to  left.  At  end  of 
dance  he  speaks. 

She  sings  with  lips  that  part  like  opening  roses. 
My  foster-mother  never  sang  like  that.  The 
blood  runs  faster  in  my  veins. 

Crosses  to  Yin  Suey  Gong. 
I  feel  something  here  that  beats. 
YIN  SUEY  GONG 

That  is  your  heart.    Philosophy  knows  nothing 

of  it. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  like  her.  She  is  so  sweetly  made — round  and 
soft  and  delicate — like  a  vase  we  would  embrace 
for  fear  it  might  fall  and  shatter  its  loveliness. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 
You  may  hold  her  and  embrace  her  beauties. 


76  THE  YELLOW  JACKET 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  might  let  her  fall  and  shatter  her  dainty 
roundness. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 
You  will  learn  in  time. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Tries. 

But  my  arms  may  not  be  strong  enough. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 
Hers  were  made  to  help  you. 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Crosses  to  Chow  Wan,  left;  awkwardly 

embraces  her. 
Other  girls  lower  fans  and  look  at  him. 

He  then  crosses  back  to  Yin  Suey  Gong. 

It  is  easier  than  I  thought.  She  grows  more 
delicately  beautiful.  She  is  sweeter  than  the 
rarest  vase.  I  like  the  holding  of  her.  Her 
breath  is  incense. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 
You  may  taste  her  lips. 


THE   YELLOW  JACKET  77 

He  crosses  to  Chow  Wan  again,  ingenu- 
.    ously  kisses  her  and  crosses  back  to  Yin 
Suey  Gong. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
Sweetmeats  rare. 

Starts  to  kiss  Chow  Wan  again,  stopped 
by  Yin  Suey  Gong. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 
I  will  sell  her  to  you. 

Hoo  GIT 


'Astonished: 
Is  she  for  salel 

Ym  SUEY  GONG 
Everything  I  possess  is  for  sale. 

KVu  Hoo  GIT 

Would  jrou  Keep  none  for  yourself? 
YIN  SUEY  GONG 

I  would  be  selfish  to  retain  such  delicate  wares. 
All  perfumed  flowers  may  be  cut  by  a  golden 
knife.  They  wait  upon  the  market  for  your  de 

sire. 

Bowing. 


78  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
I  will  buy  them  all. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

Like  most  men  you  would  have  them  all,  but, 
if  you  purchase  four  maids,  you  would  sell  three, 
or  present  them  to  your  friends. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

With  inspiration.    Moves  left. 
Then  I  will  buy  her  who  coughs. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
Girls  drop  fans  and  put  them  up  quickly. 

They  dropped  their  fans  and  looked  at  me.  I 
never  felt  such  a  delicate  shock.  It  is  like  read 
ing  the  classics  at  one  glance  by  the  light  of  ray- 
tailed  comets.  May  they  do  it  again? 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 
Not  till  you  purchase. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
And  what  must  I  pay? 


THE    YELLOW   JACKET  79 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 
All  you  have  in  your  chased  gold  purse. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Crosses  to  Yin  Suey  Gong,  right. 

But  I  have  nine  thousand  taels !    What  shall  I 
do  when  I  give  them  all  to  you? 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

Send  home  for  more  like  every  august  son  who 
would  see  the  world. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Turns  left  looking  at  purse. 
Nine  thousand  taels  for  a  mother! 
CHOW  WAN 

I  am  worth  more. 

He  looks  up  at  her. 
You  will  find  it  so. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Drops  purse. 


8o  THE   YELLOW  JACKET 

Take  my  purse,  most  gracious  Yin  Suey  Gong. 
Goes  to  Chow  Wan,  left. 

Lee  Sin  will  send  me  more.    She  would  suffer  so 
alone. 

Music.  Three  girls  turn  on  stools  with 
backs  to  audience  and  descend,  assisted 
by  the  property  man,  and  exeunt  door 
right.  Yin  Suey  Gong  follows  them  up 
to  door  and  turns,  looking  at  Wu  Hoo 
Git.  Wu  Hoo  Git  helps  Chow  Wan  off 
of  stool. 

They  do  not  smile  on  me. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

The  evil  one  fans  them  with  jealousy.    You  did 

not  buy  them,  too. 

\ 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
Are  they  angry? 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 
They  are  filled  with  humility.    Farewell! 

Aside. 

He  drowns  in  the  vase  of  pleasure.  The  Daffodil 
will  smile. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  81 

Exits  right,  laughing.  Property  man's  as 
sistants  push  four  stools  together,  then 
bring  four  chairs  and  place  them  back  of 
stools,  touching  them.  An  assistant 
exits  right  but  returns  immediately  with 
two  bamboo  poles  to  be  used  as  oars. 
Hands  one  to  another  assistant  and  they 
stand  a  little  above  and  to  the  right  of 
the  chairs.  Property  man  gets  drapery 
and  places  it  over  back  of  chairs.  Then 
he  places  two  cushions  on  the  stools 
which  he  gets  from  left  near  property 
box.  Music  stops  when  Wu  Hoo  Git 
speaks. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
By  what  sweet  name  are  you  called? 

Taking  her  hand. 
CHOW  WAN 

Chow  Wan,  Autumn  Cloud. 

• 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Dropping  her  hand,  backing  away. 

That's  augustly  pretty.    What  shall  I  do  with 
you  now  I  have  bought  you  ? 

CHOW  WAN 
Goes  to  him,  places  head  on  his  shoulder. 


82  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

I  will  teach  you. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Your  voice  is  like  an  honorable  zephyr.    Bring 

it  closer ! 

Puts  arm  about  her. 

CHOW  WAN 
You  are  learning. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

But  you  have  not  taught  me  a  thing  that  I  could 

behold. 

CHOW  WAN 

The  gods  have  taught  you  many  things  that  you 
can  feel  yet  know  not  of. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  do  not  understand,  but  I  like  you  better  than 
philosophy. 

CHOW  WAN 

When  you  have  said  farewell  to  me,  you  will  be 
a  wiser  philosopher. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Backs  away  from  her. 
Must  we  part? 


THE  YELLOW   JACKET.  83; 

Starts  to  embrace  her,  she  evades  'him, 
crosses  to  center  below. 

CHOW  WAN 
Not  for  many  perfumed  days. 

Property  man  makes  gesture  to  Chorus 
who  rises. 

CHORUS 

Tis  a  flower  boat  which  floats  upon  a  silver 
river  of  love. 

Chow  Wan  seats  herself  on  cushion  of 
boat  and  invites  Wu  Hoo  Git  to  enter. 

CHOW  WAN 

Come  with  me  in  the  flower  boat  and  float 
among  the  lotus  plants  while  the  night  birds  perch 
on  the  moon-rays  and  sing  to  us,  and  I  answer 
their  song. 

He  gets  into  the  boat.  After  he  is  set 
tled  two  assistants  with  poles  pretend  to 
row  the  boat.  Musician  rubs  two  pieces 
of  sandpaper  together  in  time  with  the 
strokes. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
lYou  think  of  such  sweet  ways  to  wander  from 


84  THE  YELLOW  JACKET 

the  minutes  of  the  third  day  of  the  third  moon  to 
the  fourth  day  of  the  third  moon. 

CHOW  WAN 

In  my  arms  you  will  wander  ten  thousand 

years. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

His  arm  about  her. 

I  wish  your  three  sisters  had  stayed  with  us.  It 
would  have  warmed  their  hearts  to  see  us  thus. 

She  drops  her  fan. 
CHOW  WAN 
You  are  so  worldly-wise. 

Fans  herself  slowly. 
They  would  have  purred  with  delight 

iWu  Hoo  GIT 

Song  off  stage. 

The  silver  sails  fill  with  the  summer  breeze. 
Wild  bells  tinkle  in  my  august  veins.  I  never 
heard  them  there  before. 

CHOW  WAN 

Turns  away  from  him. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  85 

See  the  lotus  lanterns  on  the  water  wafting 
their  candle-light  to  us ! 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Starts  up. 

This  is  the  night  of  love.    Let  not  the  morning 
come. 

CHOW  WAN 

A  love  boat  passes  us  in  the  moonlight. 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Looking.  She  follows  imaginary  boat  from 
left  to  right  with  her  hand. 

It  holds  a  woman  and  a  man  in  sweet  embrace. 
It  is  the  lotus-lipped  fan  girl  I  met  with  you. 

CHOW  WAIT 
Yin  Suey  Gong  has  sold  her  to  him. 

They  follow  the  imaginary  boat  with  their 
eyes.  Wu  Hoo  Git  with  his  hand  around 
to  right  holds  picture  until  song  off 
stage  stops. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  should  have  bought  her  and  saved  her  from 
him. 


86  THE  (YELLOW  JACKET, 

CHOW  WAN 
Your  gold  is  not  enough  for  one. 

She  puts  head  on  his  shoulder. 
Let  us  land  for  more. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Wait  until  the  night  is  passed. 
CHOW  WAN 

No !  We  will  find  it  sweeter  in  my  home.  You 
fill  the  purse  for  the  fruits,  cakes  and  candies.  I 
will  shadow  the  lanterns  and  draw  the  silken  cur 
tains  to  await  your  coming. 

He  starts  to  embrace  her.    She  stops  him. 
I  have  more  to  teach  you. 

At  gesture  from  Wu  Hoo  Git  the  assistants 
stop  rowing.  They  get  out  of  boat. 
Music  stops.  Assistants  with  bamboo 
poles  exeunt  right.  Property  man  takes 
drapery  away.  Assistants  remove  chairs. 
The  fourth  stool  is  left  in  center  of  the 
stage  with  red  cushion  on  it.  Property 
man,  after  gesture  to  Chorus,  sits  left. 
Assistants  now  exeunt  left. 

Fill  your  purse. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  87 

tWu  Hoo  GIT 

It  takes  so  much  money  to  love,  my  Autumn 
Cloud. 

Music,  he  exits  right.  Chow  Wan  watch 
ing  him  exit. 

CHOW  WAN 

He  has  flown  on  wings  of  swiftness  for  a  sec 
ond  purse  full. 

She  crosses  at  back  to  left. 

CHORUS 

Rising. 
'Tis  a  love  nest. 

Chow  Wan  opens  imaginary  door,  steps 
over  sillf  closes  door,  and  sits  on  stool 
center.  Music  continues. 

CHOW  WAN 

He  has  flown  on  wings  of  swiftness  for  a  sec 
ond  purse  full.  I  must  wait  at  home  alone. 
I  will  change  my  gown  to  one  of  softer  silk; 
dress  my  head  like  a  princess  for  my  Wu  Hoo 
Git.  Bring  me  lanterns  of  blue  and  pink  that 
their  light  may  tint  the  eye  glance  of  him  who 
comes.  Crowd  my  abode  with  almond  flowers 
and  open  the  lattice  so  that  the  moon-rays  danc- 


88  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

ing  on  my  goldfish  pond  may  make  love  to 
the  lantern's  light  within.  Fill  the  air  with  per 
fumes  of  sandal-wood.  Bring  me  my  handker 
chief  of  pale  blue  embroidered  with  purple  wis 
taria.  I  must  weep  at  my  Wu  Hoo  Git's  long  de 
lay.  Bring  my  Yeuh  Chin  that  I  may  be  playing 
when  his  footfall  tinkles  on  the  path.  Place  carved 
wood  screens  about  me  that  no  one  may  behold 
my  beauty  but  him  I  wait  for.  He  comes!  He 
comes !  My  lover  returns  with  his  purse  of  gold. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

Enters  door  left,  comes  down,  opens  im 
aginary  door,  steps  over  sill,  closes  door 
and  goes  to  Chow  Wan.  Music  stops. 

What  do  you  here  alone? 

CHOW  WAN 

Waiting  as  becomes  me.    Wu  Hoo  Git  is  filling 
his  purse  with  gold  drops. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 
It  is  not  enough.    I  can  sell  you  to  an  emperor. 

CHOW  WAN 
An  emperor ! 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  89 

Rises.     Moves  down  right  a  little  and 
stands  with  back  to  audience. 

Lead  me  to  his  fascinations. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

A  chair  of  lacquered  gold  awaits  you.  You 
must  approach  him  as  becomes  his  rank. 

CHOW  WAN 

Music  on  moon-guitar.     She  goes  up  to 
door  right  and  turns. 

I  will  approach  him  closely. 

Exits  door  right.    Music  stops.    Property 
man  removes  stool  and  cushion  to  left. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

This  is  my  lucky  day.  I've  sold  all  my  porce 
lains  but  I  must  have  Wu  Hoo  Git's  second  purse 
full  to  line  my  treasure  sack.  I  must  flatter  him 
into  another  purchase,  or  my  head  will  smile  from 
a  bamboo  pole  at  my  crooked  trunk.  My  head 
against  his  purse  of  gold. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Jf usic.    Entering  door  left,  running  to  left 
center. 


90  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

Chow  Wan — my  Autumn  Cloud!  I  bring  the 
mountain's  gold  to  you. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 
Your  purse  is  welcome. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Where  dwells  my  honorable  Autumn  Cloud, — 
Chow  Wan? 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

Drifting  in  the  azure  sky  after  a  butterfly's 
perch.  I  will  find  you  a  spring  cloud  that  is 

warmer. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  understand  not  your  speech. 
YIN  SUEY  GONG 

The  august  Wu  Hoo  Git  has  grown  so  old  in 
an  hour  of  pleasure  that  he  has  come  to  man's 
estate  and  should  now  follow  the  pleasures  of  an 

august  man. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  want  my  Autumn  Cloud. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 
Kite  flying  is  more  for  the  education  of  a  man 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  91 

who  has  seen  the  world  and  grown  weary,  as  you 
have. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

But  I  am  not  weary.  Where  is  my  Chow  Wan  ? 
I  have  a  purse  of  jewels  for  her. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

You  should  be  augustly  happy,  for  most  men 
who  have  seen  the  pleasure  path  have  lost  their 
purse.  Chow  Wan  has  flown  to  a  daintier  nest, 
silk  woven. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Flown,  as  the  morning  light  comes  to  greet  our 

love! 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

I  will  sell  you  a  more  comforting  mate. 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

But  I  own  her  heart  for  I  bought  my  august 
Autumn  Cloud  with  my  gold. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

I  sold  her  for  the  gold  of  another  whose  purse 

was  deeper. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

But  she  is  completely  mine.     The  crevices  of 


92  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

her  heart  are  mine  to  nestle  in.     She  told  me  so 
herself.    You  are  a  thief. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

I  should  not  else  be  supremely  wise. 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Bring  back  my  august  other  self  to  me.  You 
opened  Heaven's  doors  of  love  to  me,  gave  me 
the  sweets  of  life — the  perfumed  breath  of  the 
ages  of  love.  Then  you  close  the  doors,  and  tell 
me  to  find  that  joy-light  again  in  other  eyes. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

You  had  your  hour  of  fleeting  pleasure.  Do 
you  expect  with  your  small  glint  of  gold  to  buy  a 
lifetime  of  happiness? 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  am  grown  to  man  and  I  can  wreak  the  ven 
geance  of  my  might  on  him  who  steals  my  bless 
ings. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

Be  augustly  calm.  Woman  is  merely  a  matter 
of  gold.  Give  me  more  than  he  gave  and  I  will 
buy  her  back. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  93 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

From  the  arms  of  another?  The  gods  them 
selves  can  never  make  her  the  same  Autumn 
Cloud  you  stole. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

Another  will  do  as  well,  if  you  close  your  ex 
alted  eyes. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

You  shall  change,  as  she  has  changed,  so  that 
all  the  gods  of  yesterday  and  the  gods  of  to-mor 
row  can  not  right  you  into  what  you  were.  I  will 
carve  your  august  hump. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

I  will  give  you  back  your  gold  for  mercy. 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  am  not  for  sale.  Bring  me  your  honorable 
hump  that  I  may  chop  it  into  the  likeness  of  my 
Autumn  Cloud. 

Crosses  to  left. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 
I  will  defend  my  august  hump. 


94  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

He  drops  his  staff.  They  stand  in  attitude 
of  fighting.  Wu  Hoo  Git  left,  Yin  Suey 
Gong  right.  Property  man  takes  short 
double  sword  in  scabbard  and  one  short 
single  sword  in  scabbard  out  of  prop 
erty  box,  crosses  to  center,  hands  double 
sword  to  Yin  Suey  Gong,  single  sword 
to  Wu  Hoo  Git  and  retires  to  left.  Dur 
ing  fight  musician  comes  down  to  center 
below  Chorus'  table  and  works  cymbals. 
Cymbals  crash  with  the  striking  of 
swords.  The  zvhole  fight  is  conducted 
in  a  slow  methodical  manner,  with 
much  turning.  Wu  Hoo  Git  finally  cuts 
off  the  hump  of  Yin  Suey  Gong,  tak 
ing  red  bag  from  under  his  coat,  and  he 
sinks  to  the  stage  in  a  sitting  position 
back  toward  the  left.  Property  man 
places  pillow  for  Yin  Suey  Gong  in 
wrong  position.  He  motions  him  to 
bring  it  closer,  which  property  man  does 
with  his  foot. 

Yin  Suey  Gong  now  lies  down,  making 
himself  quite  comfortable.  Wu  Hoo 
Git  stands  over  him,  and  as  he  holds 
red  bag  up  at  arm's  length  loud  crash  of 
cymbals.  Wu  Hoo  Git  then  crosses  to 
left  and  victoriously  gives  his  sword  to 
property  man. 

Chow  Wan  enters  left,  stands  near  door 
way. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
Going  up  to  her  left  center  near  door. 


THE    YELLOW   JACKET  95 

Enfold  me  in  your  arms.  Taste  my  lips  again. 
Chow  Wan,  my  Autumn  Cloud. 

Embracing  her. 

CHOW  WAN 

Bitterly:  goes  down,  kneels  and  leans  over 
body  of  Yin  Suey  Gong. 

You  have  killed  my  Yin  Suey  Gong.  Who  will 
sell  me  now  ?  Evil  spirits  clutch  at  you.  Depths 
of  night  enfold  you. 

Falls  over  body  weeping. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
I  departed  his  hump  for  selling  you  from  me, 

CHOW  WAN 
He  got  more  adorable  gold  than  you  could  give. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Crossing  right  at  back. 
Gold  is  not  the  measure  of  the  heart. 

CHOW  WAN 

Go  into  the  pleasure  world  and  see.  My 
monkey,  my  Yin  Suey  Gong,  my  beautiful  Yin 
Suey  Gong. 


96  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Console  yourself, 

Chow  Wan  looks  at  him. 

I  am  not  going  to  kill  him  again. 

Girls  enter  left  and  cross  down  to  body  of 
Yin  Suey  Gong. 

CHOW  WAN 
He  has  killed  our  master ! 

GIRLS 
Killed  him! 

All  kneel  See  Quoe  Fah,  left  of  Chow 
Wan,  Mow  Dan  Fah,  right  of  Chow 
Wan,  Yong  Soo  Kow  left  of  See  Quoe 
Fah. 

Our  poor  Yin  Suey  Gong. 

CHOW  WAN 

Pathetically: 

Who  will  traffic  in  our  love  now  ? 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Gold  is  the  measure  of  your  affection.  Your 
hearts  are  outbalanced  in  the  scales  by  a  grain  of 
yellow  dust  in  the  heart  traffic  of  him  I  slew.  I 
repent  his  death  for  in  an  evil  way  he  was  a  tutor 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  97 

who  taught  me  pleasure;  though  a  traffic  not 
smiled  upon  by  the  gods,  it  must  have  some  pur 
pose  for  good  or  it  would  not  be.  May  he  glory 
in  his  ancestors ! 

CHOW  WAN 
You  have  no  ancestors. 

THE  GIRLS 

• 

No  ancestors  ? 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  have  tarried  too  long  in  the  way  of  pleasure. 
I  go  to  seek  my  ancestors.  I  give  him  back  his 
hump. 

Throws  red  bag  on  stage.  Exits  door  right. 
CHOW  WAN 

He  is  monkey-shaped  and  can  walk  upon  the 

clouds. 

Girls  hold  hands  up. 

He  is  above  human.  Put  back  his  hump  and  he 
will  live  again  to  traffic  in  our  hearts.  His  superb 
breath  returns.  His  honorable  eyes  roll  to  us. 
We  will  be  sold  again. 

Mow  Dan  Fah  gives  red  bag  to  Chow 
Wan. 


98  THE    YELLOW   JACKET 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 

Coming  to  life.  During  scene  when  Yin 
Suey  Gong  conies  to  life,  music  effects. 

Restore  my  honorable  hump — 

Chow  Wan  places  it  under  his  coat. 

that  I  may  breathe  delicious  breath. 

Sighs. 

He  cut  it  off. 

CHOW  WAN 

Wu  Hoo  Git.     He- will  perish  for  his  deed. 
He  has  no  ancestors  to  pray  to. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 
No  ancestors !    No  ancestors ! 

He  rises,  picking  up  staff.  Girls  rise  and 
back  away  up  right. 

I  am  augustly  avenged !    To  the  market  place  for 
hearts. 

Girls  exeunt  right  followed  by  Yin  Suey 
Gong  to  door.  Property  man  kicks 
death  pillow  to  assistant  left.  Then 
picks  up  two  sivords.  Puts  them  in 
scabbards  in  box  left. 

CHORUS 

Rises. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  99 

The  Daffodil,  tired  of  waiting  for  results,  visits 
Yin  Suey  Gong. 

Wu  FAH  DIN 

Enters  left,  followed  by  attendant,  who 
carries  red  silk  cord  and  stands  up  cen 
ter. 

Where  is  the  pleasure  you  promised  me? 
Where  are  the  delightful  tintinnabulations  of  joy 
at  his  undoing?  Feast  my  eyes. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 
He  has  gone. 

Wu  FAH  DIN 
Lead  me  to  his  destruction. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 
He  has  gone  to  seek  his  ancestors. 

Wu  FAH  DIN 
A  cord  about  his  neck. 

Attendant  comes  down,  places  cord  around 
Yin  Suey  Gong's  neck. 

Twist  it,  that  I  may  see  his  lying  tongue  swell 
from  his  mouth. 


ioo          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 
YIN  SUEY  GONG 

Time,  give  me  time.  When  the  arrow  misses 
you  do  not  throw  the  bow  away,  but  send  another 
shaft  on  truer  lines.  I  will  contrive  his  ruin. 

Wu  FAH  DIN 

Give  me  the  cord. 

Takes  end  of  cord. 

Follow  to  the  palace. 

Starts  up  for  door  right. 

YIN  SUEY  GONG 
The  scarf  chafes  my  neck. 

Wu  FAH  DIN 

It  remains  a  gentle  reminder,  while  we  contrive 
again. 

'Exeunt  right.  Property  man's  assistants 
place  table  with  cover  center.  Chair 
with  cover  and  small  stool  on  it  right  of 
table.  They  exeunt  left. 

CHORUS 

Rites. 

Tis  the  House  of  Tai  Char  Shoong,  the  illustri 
ous,  father  of  Plum  Blossom,  the  adored  heroine 
of  this  play. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  101 

Enter  Plum  Blossom  (Moy  Fah  Loy)  and 
See  Noi  left  and  hold  picture  in  door 
way. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 
Come  quickly. 

They  move  down  left.  Property  man 
stands  down  left  with  bamboo  pole  in 
horizontal  position  across  stage. 

From  the  window  of  this  room  we  can  see  him 
pass. 

Wu  Hoo  Git  enters,  comes  down  left, 
crosses  below  property  man  to  right  and 
exits  up  right. 

SEE  Noi 
What,  what,  what! 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

Saw  you  not  the  youth  of  the  kite  hill  ?  To  the 
window !    Open  the  lattice  that  I  may  peep. 

See  Noi  opens  imaginary  shutters. 

SEE  Noi 

Tis  Wu  Hoo  Git!    Be  careful  lest  he  see  you. 

Pulling  her  up  stage. 
Remember  your  maiden  modesty. 


102          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 
MOY  FAH  LOY 

Looking  at  Wu  Hoo  Git  through  imagi 
nary  window. 

Saw  you  ever  one  who  walks  like  him  with  god 
like  mien?  He  stands  so  straight  the  clouds  sep 
arate  to  form  a  pathway  for  his  brain. 

Turns,  looks  at  See  Noi. 

He  looks  not  back.    His  eyes  are  not  for  woman, 
but  eternities. 

Moy  Fah  Loy  closes  imaginary  shutters 
and  crosses  to  below  table.  Property 
man  retires  left  with  pole. 

Oh!     A  madness  of  dejection  enters  my  fancy 
and  chills  my  heart. 

Enter  Tai  Char  Shoong  left.  Strikes 
picture  in  doorway.  Wood  block  and 
small  gong.  Coming  down  left  between 
See  Noi  and  Moy  Fah  Loy. 

TAI  CHAR  SHOONG 

See  Noi!  Let  my  Plum  Blossom  be  robed  in 
richness  becoming  the  birth  of  my  daughter. 

Plum  Blossom  crosses  to  See  Noi,  who 
goes  to  door  with  her  as  she  exits  left. 


THE    YELLOW   JACKET  103 

TAI  CHAR  SHOONG 

Crosses  and  sits  right  of  table. 

See  Noi,  I  am  about  to  give  my  daughter  in 

betrothal. 

See  Noi  comes  down  left. 

SEE  Noi 
I  feared  it,  illustrious  master. 

TAI  CHAR  SHOONG 

How  dare  you  fear  what  I  command!     You 
have  loosed  your  tongue  to  my  daughter. 

SEE  Noi 

Frightened: 

No  more  than  she  has  heard  herself ;  gossip, 
breeze  carried  through  each  window  lattice. 

TAI  CHAR  SHOONG 
And  of  what  do  busy  tongues  complain? 

SEE  Noi 

Of  the  future  mother-in-law  of  her  you  would 
give  in  marriage. 

TAI  CHAR  SHOONG 

A  perfect  woman,  filled  with  knowledge  of 
what  a  wife  should  be. 


104          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 
SEE  Noi 

'Tis  whispered  her  son's  first  wife  died  of  his 
mother's  accomplishments. 

TAI  CHAR  SHOONG 

What  more  could  she  have  done  for  my  daugh 
ter's  sake? 

SEE  Nor 

If  it  must  be  so,  may  she  possess  a  hundred 
children  and  a  thousand  grandchildren. 

TAI  CHAR  SHOONG 

It  is  too  few  to  wish  her. 

Music. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

Enters  left,  richly  gowned,  comes  down  to 
below  table  center.    Bows. 

Honorable  father,  I  have  done  your  bidding. 

TAI  CHAR  SHOONG 
He  holds  out  his  hand.    She  comes  to  him. 

Let  a  smile  of  joy  dwell  upon  your  lips  and  be 
have  in  your  most  graceful  manner,  for  the 
Widow  of  Ching,  comes  to  negotiate  for  the  mar 
riage  of  her  son. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  105 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

Turns  front.  Eyes  down,  head  turned 
away. 

I  smile  in  the  house  of  my  father,  I  might  weep 
in  the  home  of  his  friend. 

TAI  CHAR  SHOONG 

A  wife  must  take  what  the  gods  bestow  upon 
her. 

Rises. 

Now  approaches  the  august  mother-in-law.    For 
get  not  the  courtesies  of  such  a  meeting. 

Music.  The  Widow  and  maid  enter  on  a 
wheelbarrow  trundled  by  assistant,  fol 
lowed  by  another  with  green  card. 
They  cross  doivn  left,  then  to  right 
and  up.  Assistant  presents  card  to 
Tai  Char  Shoong,  who  crosses  to  left, 
then  assists  them  to  alight  from  wheel- 
barrozv  and  exits  right.  Assistant  with 
zvheelbarrow  exits  right. 

WIDOW 

Tai  Char  Shoong,  I  bestow  upon  this  house  a 
bow. 

Bows.  Maid  takes  small  stool  off  chair 
and  as  Widow  sits,  places  it  under  feet 
and  retires  back  of  her. 


106          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 
TAI  CHAR  SHOONG 

And  I  bestow  upon  the  Widow  of  our  great 
mandarin,  departed  to  his  ancestors,  and  the 
mother  of  our  youthful  mandarin,  a  bow. 

All  bow  again. 
Bring  jade  cups  of  tea  and  pipe. 

Property  man  brings  tray  with  two  tea 
bowls  and  two  cups  and  Chinese  pipe. 
Places  tray  on  table  center.  Then  lights 
pipe  and  crosses  to  left  and  sits. 

WIDOW 
Is  this  Moy  Fah  Loy  ? 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

I  am  Moy  Fah  'Loy. 

Below  table,  bowing  to  her. 

WIDOW 

Let  me  observe  you.    Turn  about  with  graceful 

composure. 

She  does  so. 

Your  hair  is  arranged  complacently;  your  feet 
are  large. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET          107 

TAI  CHAR  SHOONG 

Down  left. 

That  she  may  walk  the  easier  to  attend  upon 
her  mother-in-law. 

WIDOW 

Let  me  observe  the  nails  of  your  fingers.  There 
is  a  hair  left  in  one  eyebrow.  It  shows  careless 
ness  in  preparing  for  my  observation.  Your 
lips  should  be  painted  thinner.  Can  you  em 
broider  ? 

See  Noi  gives  lighted  pipe  to  maid. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

Kingfishers  and  storks. 

WIDOW 

Good  birds,  both. 

Maid  gives  pipe  to  Widow. 

Can    you    prepare    with    daintiness    sweetmeats, 
watermelon  seeds,  rice  wine  ? 

She  puffs  pipe.  Returns  it  to  maid  who 
then  hands  it  to  See  Noi,  who  places  it 
on  table. 


io8          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 
TAI  CHAR  SHOONG 


Sadly: 


Her  august  mother,  divinely  departed,  instruct 
ed  her  in  the  virtues  of  the  home. 

WIDOW 

Permit  me,  Tai  Char  Shoong,  to  examine  into 
your  daughter's  virtues,  as  I  am  augustly  versed 
in  virtues.  You  should  wait  upon  me,  your 
mother-in-law,  with  modest  obeisance. 

TAI  CHAR  SHOONG 

Could  she  be  other  than  a  worshipful  slave  to 
such  an  honorable  mother-in-law  ? 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

There  are  thirty-six  kinds  of  mother-in-law, 
and  she  is  every  kind. 

WIDOW 

I  will  bestow  upon  you  because  of  the  excel 
lence  of  this  house,  ten  thousand  taels. 

TAI  CHAR  SHOONG 

My  house  and  daughter  are  illustriously  hon 
ored. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET,          109 
WIDOW 

'Rises.     Maid  picks  up  stool  as  Widow 
rises  and  places  it  on  chair. 

We  will  gracefully  take  the  daughter  of  Tai 
Char  Shoong  into  our  hearts  and  home. 

TAI  CHAR  SHOONG 

The  splendor  of  the  honor  of  bestowing  such  a 
mother-in-law  upon  my  daughter  dazzles  my 
modest  eyes. 

WIDOW 

I  take  my  departure.  You  are  augustly  blessed, 
my  Plum  Blossom,  in  having  me  to  guide  your 
way,  in  my  illustrious  son's  house. 

MOY  FAH  LOY, 
Augustly  blessed ! 

WIDOW 

Crossing  up  to  door.     Tai  Char  Shoong 
goes  to  above  table. 

Prepare  your  gracious  self  for  the  six  cere 
monies  within  three  days,  for  I  need  your  worthy 
service  in  my  home. 


no          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

Bows  and  exits,  preceded  by  maid.  Tai 
Char  Shoong  bows  and  exits  up  right. 
Property  man  crosses  to  table,  takes  tea 
tray  and  pipe.  Smokes  pipe  as  he  crosses 
to  left.  Places  them  in  box  left  and  sits. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

Going  to  See  Noi  up  right,  who  holds  her 
in  her  arms. 

My  mother-in-law ! 

Looking  up. 
Bring  me  poison ! 

SEE  Noi 

Say   not   so,   honorable   one.     Think   on  the 
family. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

Lead  me  to  the  tablets  of  my  mother  that  I  may 
pray  to  her  and  know. 

Music.  They  exeunt  right,  property  man 
and  assistants  arrange  four  chairs  across 
stage  with  backs  to  audience  and  a  stool 
center.  Property  man  crosses  to  center 
and  superintends  placing  of  chairs. 
Over  the  backs  of  the  chairs,  beginning 
from  the  right,  property  man  places 
white  cloth  tablets  on  which  are  painted 
in  Chinese  characters  the  following 
names:  Chum  Shou,  Moy  Kwai  Fah 
'Loy,  Moy  pah  Lay.  He  gets  th$  two 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  in 

tablets  mired  on  the  chairs  left  of  stool 
center,  and  after  reading  the  names 
changes  them.  After  so  placing  the  tab 
lets  property  man  sits  on  stool  left,  and 
starts  to  read  paper.  An  assistant  enters 
with  bowl  of  rice.  Gives  it  to  property 
man,  ivho  smiles  and  takes  it.  Assistant 
exits.  Property  man  then  bows  to 
Chorus  who  has  become  annoyed  at  de 
lay,  and  then  sits  and  begins  eating  rice 
with  chop  sticks.  Music  during  this 
business. 

CHORUS 

Tis  the  resting  place  of  the  bodies  of  the  de 
parted. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Enters  left,  comes  right  of  stool  center. 
Music  forte  until  he  gets  to  center,  then 
stops.  Looks  at  tablets. 

Here  in  the  city  of  the  dead  I  will  find  my  im 
pressive  ancestors.  I  will  pray  at  the  tombs  for 
the  gods  to  give  me  an  honorable  mother.  I  must 
have  had  an  august  father  once,  for  every  one, 
they  say,  has  had  at  least  one  august  father.  I 
will  pray  at  the  tombs  for  the  gods  to  give  me  an 
honorable  mother,  with  a  delicate  name — one  that 
drops  like  a  sweet  song  from  the  lips. 

Reads,  chair  first  right. 


H2  THE    YELLOW   JACKET 

Chum  Shou,  "Graceful  Long  Life/'  I  like  not 
her  name. 

Crosses  right. 

I  will  not  pray  to  her.  Here  is  a  tomb  that  is 
deep  in  the  ashes  of  burned  paper  money.  I  will 
dust  away  the  ashes  with  my  solemn  breath. 

Blows  on  tablet,  then  reads  tablet  number 
two  right. 

Moy  Kwai  Fall  Loy,  "Rose  Bud."  I  care  not  for 
roses.  With  my  solemn  breath  I  cover  her  again 
with  ashes. 

Blows  breath  on  tablet,  moves  to  left. 

Here  is  a  quiet  ancestral  tablet.  From  within  is 
sues  precious  light. 

Reads  number  one  left. 

Moy  Fah  Loy,  "Plum  Blossom."  I  like  plums 
and  I  have  scented  the  perfume  of  their  blossoms. 
I  will  take  Plum  Blossom  for  motherhood. 

Property  man  puts  down  bowl  of  rice  and 
places  cushion  before  chair  left  center, 
holding  chop  sticks  in  other  hand. 

I  kneel, 

Does  so. 


THE    YELLOW   JACKET  113 

for  I  have  found  an  exemplary  tablet  that  con 
forms  to  my  adorable  self. 

Music. 

Plum  Blossom  mother,  to  you  whom  I  find  late  in 
life,  my  speech  choked  with  tears,  my  heart  weary 
with  long  suffering,  I  kneel. 

Property  man  takes  bamboo  pole  from 
wall  left,  crosses  to  right  of  Chorus' 
table  and  stands  with  back  to  the  audi 
ence — holding  pole  in  perpendicular  po 
sition. 

CHORUS 
'Tis  a  celestial  weeping-willow  tree. 

Plum  Blossom  enters  left,  crosses  to  center 
at  back  and  stands  just  below  pole,  with 
fan  over  her  face. 

CHORUS 

The  maiden  peeps  from  the  shadow  of  the  tree 

at  the  youth  of  her  fancy. 

Music  stops. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

Who  kneels  at  the  tablets  of  my  Pum  Blossom 
mother? 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

An  august  child  just  born  to  her.    What  fairy 


ii4  THE    YELLOW   JACKET 

of  beauty  crosses  my  prayer!  A  princess  in  dress 
and  carriage,  a  lily  foot.  Light  radiates  from  her 
person  and  shines  through  her  garments.  Raise 
your  fan  to  me. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

In  surprise  does  so.    Then  covers  her  face 
again. 

I  did  not  mean  to  do  it. 

To  audience. 
Tis  he  of  the  kite  hill. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Painted  banner  of  love!  You  fill  the  pockets 
of  my  eyes  with  graciousness.  I  like  you.  I  wish 
that  you  were  buried  here  that  I  might  take  you 
to  motherhood. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

It  is  my  mother  that  lies  there,  and  I  came  to 
burn  incense  at  her  tablets. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Rises,  goes  up  to  her. 

I  will  assist  your  honorable  hands. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 
It  is  most  unholy  to  speak  to  a  man — • 


THE    YELLOW   JACKET  115 

.Wu  Hoo  GIT 
At  the  grave  of  our  exalted  mother? 

MOY  FAH  LOY 
I  like  your  voice.    It  is  sweet. 

She  sits  stool  center.  Property  man 
crosses  left  and  places  pole  against  wall 
left  and  then  sits. 

I  will  be  unholy  while  See  Noi,  my  maid,  yonder 
in  the  flowery  path  prays  to  her  mother's  ashes 
and  sees  me  not. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
I  selected  the  right  mother. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 
Then  she  is  not  your  real  honorable  mother? 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  liked  her  name  and  thought  she  would  be  an 
honorable  mother.    I  needed  one. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

I  am  glad  you  chose  her.     I  couldn't  have 
spoken  to  you  if  you  had  not  been  one  of  our 

sublime  family, 

Peeps  at  him  through  fan. 


n6          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  can  behold  with  my  eyes  your  celestial  heart 
through  the  lattice  of  your  fan. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

How  wonderful  you  are  !  The  openings  are  so 
small  for  you  to  peep  through  and  my  heart  is  so 
augustly  large. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  know  the  august  woman  heart.  I  have  trav 
eled  the  road  of  pleasure.  I  have  sailed  on  the 

flowery  sea  of  sin. 

Crosses  to  right. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 
How  enchanting!    You  walk  like  an  emperor. 

He  stops  walking. 
iWalk  for  me. 

iWu  Hoo  GIT 
I  walk. 

Moves  several  steps  toward  her. 

How  old  are  you?  You  must  be  forty,  you 
are  so  beautiful  and  wise. 


MOY  FAH 

Tapping  her  fan. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET         117 

Walk. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  walk. 

Crosses  to  left. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

Walk  with  your  venerable   footsteps  nearer, 
that  I  may  see  you  through  my  fan. 

He  turns  toward  her. 

Not  with  your  eyes  fixed  upon  me,  but  your 
head  held  high  in  majesty. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  should  walk  into  your  eyes  and  lips. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 
Then  I  could  not  use  them. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

There  is  a  way. 

Kneeling  left  of  her. 
I  have  learned  it. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 
From  another  maiden  ? 

Turns  her  back  on  hint. 


n8  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

I  do  not  know  augustly  why,  but  I  do  not  like 
that. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  will  teach  you. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

Then  I  shall  have  traveled  the  flowery  paths 
just  as  far  as  you. 

Turns  to  him  again. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Augustly  deign  to  place  your  eyes  this  way.  I 
would  have  celestially  sworn  that  I  had  measured 
the  depths  and  heights  of  joy ;  I  only  stood  on  the 
rim  of  the  false  jade  cup  till  I  looked  into  your 
eyes. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

Drawing  away  from  him  slowly. 
We  are  forgetting  our  mother. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  have  a  thought. 

'Rises. 

If  you  are  my  sister  and  I  am  your  brother,  I  had 
better  adopt  another  mother. 


THE    YELLOW   JACKET  119 

MOY  FAH  LOY 
Tell  me  why  ? 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

We  can  not  love  unless  you  will  be  my  mother- 
wife. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

What  shall  we  do?  I  am  on  the  threshold  of 
betrothal. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Then  I  renounce  our  mother  and  will  contend 
with  him  who  seeks  your  hand. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

Rises.    Smiling. 

Let  us  augustly  kneel  and  burn  incense  and 
pray  to  find  a  way. 

They  kneel  before  chair  number  one,  left. 
SEE  Noi 

Enters  door  left,  crosses  to  right  at  back 
and  down  right. 

Moy  Fah  Loy,  Plum  Blossom ;  do  my  eyes  de 
ceive  me !  On  her  knees  with  a  man,  and  she  was 
left  in  my  exalted  care ! 


120          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 
MOY  FAH  LOY 

Is  that  you,  See  Noi?     I  was  engrossed  in 
prayer. 

SEE  Noi 

Crosses  to  Plum  Blossom. 

All  the  prayers  of  all  the  gods  and  all  the 
world  burned  up  in  an  incense  pot  could  not  save 
you  now. 

Takes  her  by  the  arm.    Pulls  her  to  right 
center. 

You  are  ruined.    You  have  spoken  to  a  man ! 

MOY  FAH  LOY 
He  is  my  brother. 

SEE  Noi 

Impossible !    I  knew  your  mother. 
MOY  FAH  LOY 

He  has  adopted  my  mother.  He  had  none,  so 
I  gave  him  half  of  mine.  You  taught  me  chari 
ties. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  121 

'Assistant  removes  two  tablets  from  chair 
left  of  stool  center,  rolls  them  and 
wakes  property  man  to  give  them  to 
him.  Then  takes  second  chair  left  and 
places  it  up  left,  back  to  audience.  The 
other  chair  left  of  stool  he  removes  to 
wall  left. 

Half  my  mother  was  all  I  had  to  give. 
SEE  Noi 

Evil  spirits  have  you.  Your  maiden  modesty 
has  flown.  You  have  talked  with  a  man ! 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  will  marry  her,  for  she  is  good. 
SEE  Noi 

Plum  Blossom,  daughter  of  Tai  Char  Shoong, 
marry  a  man  without  a  mother!  The  maiden 
bloom  of  her  cheek  you  have  brushed  away.  You 
have  blighted  the  fruit  of  her  usefulness.  Her 
father  will  behead  me  for  this  dishonor. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
I  will  make  her  happier  than  a  father  could. 

SEE  Noi 
Your  doors  are  not  opposite.    Your  wealth  can 


122  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

not  match  hers.    You  have  no  mother  and  are  un 
equal.    Home,  I  say! 

Takes  Plum  Blossom  up  to  door  right, 
sobbing. 

And  see  my  gray  head  pay  the  price  your  shamed 
virtue  brings  upon  your  father's  house. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 
I  must  be  very  wicked. 

They  exeunt.  See  Noi  crying.  Property 
man  picks  up  red  cushion  and  places  it 
left,  near  property  box. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Follows  up  to  door  and  turns. 

If  I  am  to  believe  my  eyes,  I  have  lost  true 
love.  Shadows  encircle  me.  Who  are  you,  the 
rapping  of  whose  bambo  stick,  tapping  its  way 
hither  in  measured  tread,  encroaches  on  my  si 
lence  ? 

Enter  door  left,  Maun  Gung,  blind  for- 
tune-teller,  accompanied  by  rapping  on 
wood  block  in  orchestra.  Down  left, 
crosses  and  up  right  before  speaking. 
Carries  long  bamboo  stick,  which  he 
raps  on  stage,  still  accompanied  by 
wood  block  in  the  orchestra. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  123 

MAUN  GUNG 

The  blinds  of  darkness  have  been  drawn  across 
the  windows  of  my  head.  I  see  not.  I  am  a  beg 
gar;  the  past,  the  present  and  the  future  parade 
before  me.  I  know  all. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

How  can  you  know  when  you  can  not  see  ? 
MAUN  GUNG 

Let  your  kindness  loose  its  purse-string  to  help 
me  on  my  stumbling  way  and  I  will  tell. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Gives  money. 

How  know  you  life  with  holes  for  eyes? 

MAUN  GUNG 
I  look  within.    There  lies  all  there  is  to  know. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Then  you  are  not  a  prophet  of  the  days  to 
come? 

MAUN  GUNG 

I  read  the  days  to  come  by  the  light  of  the  days 
that  have  gone.  My  brain  sights  travel  the 


I24          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

ghostly  ways  of  memory.  What  a  man  was,  he 
is;  and  what  he  is,  he  will  be.  A  fool  can 
prophesy. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Know  you  the  year  and  moon  of  my  birth? 
MAUN  GUNG 

Not  so,  for  your  birthday  was  the  death  day  of 
what  you  were  before. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
Was  I  born  rich  or  poor  ? 

MAUN  GUNG 

You  were  born  rich,  for  your  mind  is  rich  and 
that  is  all. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Whom  seek  I? 

MAUN  GUNG 

You  have  a  youthful  voice,  therefore  warm 
blood  is  in  your  veins.  You  seek  your  love- 
mate. 

Wu  Hoo  Gn 

And  will  sfie  come  to  me? 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  125 

MAUN  GUNG 

If  you  pray  to  your  venerated  ancestors  to 
guide  her  right. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Fearfully: 
And  if  I  have  no  ancestors? 

MAUN  GUNG 

Raising  stick. 

Even  my  bamboo  has  its  celestial  shadow  and, 
if  you  have  no  ancestors,  you  are  an  unwanted 
soul  cast  back  on  the  shores  of  earth  to  starve  of 

joy. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Speak  not  so !    I  will  not  hear  it. 

MAUN  GUNG 
You  like  not  the  truth. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

'Angrily: 

I  will  send  you  to  your  ancestors  to  plead  for 

me. 

MAUN  GUNG 

I  can  not  plead  to  them.  I  will  live  forever 
there,  but  will  not  know  my  neighbors.  Learn 
for  yourself,  as  I  have. 

Exits,  tapping  cane,  'door  right. 


126          THE   YELLOW   JACKET, 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Stay,  tell  me  more!  He  goes  from  me  as  all 
have  done  in  the  world.  Everything  I  touch  turns 
to  blackness  in  my  hand. 

Property  man  stands  on  chair  up  left  with 
bamboo  pole  and  silk  cord  with  noose. 

I  behold  a  weeping  willow.  I  shall  die  on  its 
branch,  then  my  love  will  be  sorry.  I  will  find 
my  ancestors. 

Stands  on  stool  center.  Props  lower  pole. 
He  puts  noose  around  his  neck.  Then 
jumps  off  stool. 

CHORUS 

He  hangs  himself,  but  fear  not,  the  spirit  of 
his  mother  watches  over  him,  and  will  send  a 
wayfarer  who  will  cut  him  down. 

Enter  Git  Hok  Gar  left,  crosses  down  left. 
Sees  Wu  Hoo  Git  and  backs  away  to 
left.  Large  gong.  He  then  turns  to 
property  man,  who  holds  out  sword  to 
him.  He  takes  it  and  cuts  at  cord. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Who  are  you  that  would  take  from  me  the  joy 
of  compelling  the  world  to  miss  me? 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET          127 
GIT  HOK  GAR 

The  world  laughs  when  there  is  one  less  mouth 
to  feed.  If  you  would  make  the  world  respect 
you,  stay  and  fight  it. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Takes  off  noose.    Rubs  throat. 
I  prefer  my  celestial  breath. 

GIT  HOK  GAR 
Dying  hurts  unnecessarily. 

Property  man  grabs  sword  from  him  and 
puts  it  in  box,  then  places  pole  against 
wall  left.  Git  Hok  Gar  turns  and  looks 
at  him.  Assistant  crosses  to  right  and 
removes  tablets  from  chairs  and  places 
them  in  box  left.  Turning  to  Wu  Hoo 
Git. 

You  are  too  young  to  seek  death.     What  leads 
you  to  this  making  off  ? 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

The  loss  of  a  love  that  encircles  my  life  like  a 
star  light-ringed. 

GIT  HOK  GAR 
To  enjoy  love  you  must  enjoy  life. 


128          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  am  a  worldless  man.  Even  at  the  threshold 
of  my  days — I  am  shameful.  I  have  no  shadows, 
no  ancestors  to  bring  a  blessing  to  my  love. 

GIT  HOK  GAR 
Have  you  no  home  ? 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
My  father  and  mother  are  foster. 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

Then  you  owe  them  more  than  those  who,  in 
giving  you  life,  had  a  duty  toward  you.  Home! 
You  are  rich  in  mind,  which  is  all. 

Crosses  up  right. 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 
But  the  circle  about  my  heart !    My  love  ring ! 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

Make  yourself  great  in  right  living  and  your 
ancestors  will  find  you.  Cheerful,  my  boy,  I  will 
lead  you  to  your  home  and  my  gray  head  will  find 
you  life  and  love,  which  I  missed  for  want  of 
guiding.  Come !  To  your  home ! 

They  exeunt  right. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  129 

Property  man's  assistant  removes  one 
chair  to  wall  right.  The  other  he  places 
against  Chorus'  table  and  another  as 
sistant  takes  stool  from  center  and 
places  it  against  the  chair  and  below  it. 
Property  man  then  places  sword  on  it, 
dusting  it  first. 

CHORUS 
'Tis  again  the  house  of  Lee  Sin,  the  farmer. 

Music. 
SUEY  SIN  FAH 

Enters  left,  followed  by  Lee  Sin.  They 
come  doivn  left,  open  imaginary  door, 
step  over  the  sill.  Lee  Sin  closes  the 
door. 

Will  he  never  come,  Lee  Sin  ? 

LEE  SIN 
When  he  has  learned  the  world. 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 
He  has  forgotten  us. 

LEE  SIN 

My  majestic  ox  does  not  forget  the  stall  where 

he  is  fed. 

Crosses  to  right.    Music. 


130          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Enters  with  Git  Hok  Gar. 
My  home,  the  door. 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

Left  of  him. 
Enter  bravely  and  make  amends. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  am  ashamed.    You  go  first. 
GIT  HOK  GAR 

Raps  on  imaginary  door.     Opens  door. 
Enters. 

I  am  Git  Hok  Gar,  philosopher.     Have  you  a 
son? 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 
Not  dead! 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

He  is  at  your  threshold  seeking  forgiveness. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Enters  imaginary  door. 
May  I  enter  ? 


THE    YELLOW   JACKET  131 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 
Wu  Hoo  Git,  my  boy,  my  Wu  Hoo  Git ! 

Embraces  him,  weeping.     Git  Hok  Gar 
moves  up  right. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
I  choke ! 

Crosses  to  center. 

How  are  the  august  rice  fields,  the  loom  and 
the  ox? 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 

You  have  not  forgotten  them? 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  am  learning  to  remember,  for  memory  comes 
with  love,  and  I  have  met  one  who  lit  the  enchant 
ing  candle  in  my  heart.  Her  lips  are  flower  buds 
that  open  with  delight  at  the  warmth  of  my  su 
perb  kisses,  but  even  as  my  day  broke  with  a  ro 
seate  dawn,  a  despair  cloud  crossed  the  sky,  and 
death  hovered  in  my  path.  I  have  no  ancestors. 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 

My  poor  boy ! 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Pity  me  not.    Manliness  sneers  at  pity.    Open 


132          THE   YELLOW  JACKET 

the  door  of  knowledge  to  me.    Who  are  my  an 
cestors  ? 

LEE  SIN 
They  are — 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 
No!  No! 

LEE  SIN 
I  will  tell! 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 

It  will  cost  us  his  life  and  yours. 

LEE  SIN 
I  care  not. 

Crosses  to  Wu  Hoo  Git.  Tai  Char  Shoong 
enters  dragging  Plum  Blossom  by  the 
hand. 

I  murdered  for  love  of  you.    What  must  our  boy 
suffer  for  love !    Your  father  was — 

TAI  CHAR  SHOONG 

Who  has  come  down  left. 
Dwells  Wu  Hoo  Git  here? 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  am  the  august  Wu  Hoo  Git.    Who  are  you 
that  break  upon  us  like  an  angry  sea  ? 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET          133 
TAI  CHAR  SHOONG 

Father  of  the  glorious  Plum  Blossom,  whom 

you  betrayed. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  found  your  celestial  daughter  at  the  tablets  of 
her  mother.     She  was  pure  and  beautiful  and  I 

loved  her. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

And  I  loved  him. 

TAI  CHAR  SHOONG 

To  Wu  Hoo  Git. 
Your  days  are  numbered. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
Not  by  the  count  of  man. 

TAI  CHAR  SHOONG 
But  by  a  father's  count. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
I  will  marry  her,  and  make  her  mine. 

TAI  CHAR  SHOONG 
You,  without  ancestors! 


134          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 
SUEY  SIN  FAH 

Season  your  anger  while  I  speak!  To  your 
knees,  Wu  Hoo  Git,  and  receive  your  sacred  heri 
tage. 

He  kneels,  back  to  audience. 

Raise  your  eyes  heavenward. 

She  takes  out  baby  jacket  with  Chinese  let 
ters  on  it. 

Your  mother  now  speaks. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
My  mother ! 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 

Showing  him  the  baby  jacket. 

Each  blood-stain  from  this  baby  jacket  is  the 
history  of  your  being  and  breathes  a  mother's 
blessing. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
My  soul ! — my  mother ! 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 

These  lines  are  too  sacred  for  me  to  voice. 
Your  lips  alone  must  form  the  words. 


THE    YELLOW   JACKET  135 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

My  eyes  are  choked  with  tears.  Breathe  my 
mother's  name. 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 
Chee  Moo,  the  beautiful! 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
Chee  Moo !    I  feel  her  a  little  above  my  head. 

LEE  SIN 
And  your  father— 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

My  father!  The  highway  of  too  much  joy 
opens  to  my  famished  soul. 

LEE  SIN 
Wu  Sin  Yin,  the  Great. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
The  Great! 

TAI  CHAR  SHOONG 

If  this  were  true,  Wu  Hoo  Git  would  rule  this 
province  where  the  Daffodil,  son  of  Wu  Sin  Yin, 
the  Great,  now  sits  in  splendor. 


136          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

My  mother  crowns  me  with  a  truth  cloud.    I 
will  prove  her  air  message  for  her  I  love. 

TAI  CHAR  SHOONG 

I  believe  you  not !    Make  your  boasting  words 
realities  and  Plum  Blossom  is  yours. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

And  so  I  will.    But  what  have  I  to  guard  the 
way  of  life? 

LEE  SIN 

Who  has  taken  sword  from  chair  up  cen 
ter  now  comes  down. 

This  sword  of  courage. 

Gives  sword  to  Wu  Hoo  Git  and  steps 
back  a  little. 

SUEY  SIN  FAH 

Gives  baby  jacket. 

And  this  guiding  star  of  a  mother's  love  to 
armor  him. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
A  mother's  love ! 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  137 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

Crossing  to  center. 

Make  a  prayer  each  day  big  enough  to  match  it 
and  I  will  do  so,  too. 

Suey  Sin  Fah  and  Lee  Sin  retire  up  stage 
right. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  will  write  your  name  on  my  hand-palms  that 
everything  I  touch  and  feel  will  be  Plum  Blos 
som.  I  may  never  clasp  my  home  and  heart 
again.  Let  me  mingle  my  breath  with  yours. 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

Crossing  to  left. 

You  are  already  breathing  the  harshness  of  the 
world.  You  must  fulfil  the  life  for  which  your 
mother  died. 

Two  assistant  property  men  with  chariot 
banners  enter  door  left  and  stand  each 
side  of  it. 

A  stern  way  is  licking  your  feet.    Come !    Your 
glorious  chariot  awaits  you. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
Rising.    Crosses  to  Git  Hok  Gar  left. 


138  THE    YELLOW   JACKET 

Carry  I  naught  away  with  me  but  honorable 
memories  and  leave  all  behind  me  at  this  door 
way  of  farewells? 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

Crosses  to  center. 

Yes,  one  part  of  me  you  take.  My  way  shall 
be  crippled  till  your  return,  then  restore  it  to  me. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Speak  the  joy  you  have  in  store  for  me. 
MOY  FAH  LOY 

Takes  off  slipper. 

My  slipper!  Let  it  bide  next  your  heart  on 
your  weary  way.  In  the  hour  of  frightful  neces 
sity  shake  it  and  I  will  come  to  you. 

Gives  it  to  him. 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

What  do  you  meantime  without  your  august 
slipper? 

MOY  FAH  LOY 
Stand  on  one  leg  like  a  bird. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  139 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
On  one  leg  like  an  august  bird ! 

Kisses  Plum  Blossom. 
SUEY  SIN  FAH 

Wu  Hoo  Git ! 

Music. 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

Come !    Mount ! 

Git  Hok  Gar  goes  up  and  stands  between 
by  the  chariot  banners.  Plum  Blossom 
hops  on  one  foot  and  stands  on  chair  up 
center^  waving  farewell. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  go  to  seek  my  heritage. 

They  start  across  the  stage,  accompanied 
by  the  chariot  banners.  Plum  Blossom 
hops  on  one  foot  and  stands  on  chair  up 
center,  waving  farewell. 

LEE  SIN 
Courage,  my  boy !    Courage ! 

They  go  to  right,  then  up  stage  and  turn 
near  door. 


140          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Farewell ! 

Holding  slipper  up  in  the  air. 

TABLEAU  CURTAIN 
CHORUS 

Appearing  through  opening  in  tableau  cur 
tain  and  boiuing. 

I  bow  in  personal  appreciation  of  your  approval, 
if  truly  manifest,  of  my  Wu  Hoo  Git,  upon  whom 
my  fancy  will  now  bestow  the  Yellow  Jacket  and 
the  Peacock  Feather.  I  speak  in  the  first  person, 
for  I  am  accustomed  to  adulation,  and  it  does  not 
in  the  least  discompose  me.  My  brothers  of  the 
Pear  Tree  Garden  are  far  otherwise ;  a  little  flat 
tery  upsets  their  modest  equipoise.  While  there 
may  be  those  who  desire  to  secure  the  credit  or 
discredit,  I  will  say, — your  generosity  forces  me 
to  admit  it, — I  wrote  this  play — a  mere  trifle.  I 
composed  the  music,  too.  I  taught  them  the  story 
of  my  grandiloquent  imagination,  I  showed 
them  where  to  walk,  how  to  talk.  In  my  august 
fancy  I  painted  the  scenes.  My  menial,  the  prop 
erty  man,  at  my  august  celestial  suggestion,  will 
now  give  them  thunder-clouds  and  snow-storms 
to  assist  their  meager  interpretation.  The  play  is 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  i4I 

mine,  the  acting  virtually  mine.  Such  remunera 
tion  as  you  have  bestowed  upon  us  by  your  gra 
cious  patronage,  I  accept.  Such  sums  as  I  may 
deem  necessary  I  shall  pass  on  to  my  brothers. 
At  the  end  of  the  play  you  may  call  them  before 
you  if  you  like.  It  will  please  me,  and  praise 
them  sparingly,  but  of  course,  I  shall  know  that 
you  know  that  the  celestial  thought  was  wholly 
and  modestly  mine.  I  bow. 

Exits. 

CURTAIN 


ACT   III 

After  house  curtain  is  raised  property  man 
comes  before  tableau  curtains,  walks  back  and 
forth  across  stage,  beating  large  gong.  As  he 
exits  behind  the  curtains,  orchestra  on  stage  be 
gins  to  play.  At  crash  of  cymbals  Chorus  comes 
before  tableau  curtains. 

CHORUS 

I  still  observe  my  honorable  way  and  come  to 
you,  making  my  words  brief  and  less  august  at 
each  superb  presentation  of  myself,  for  the  more 
my  brothers  have  to  say  the  less  need  I.  The  sec 
ond  father-in-law^  Tai  Fah  Min,  though  dead, 
still  lives  in  spirit  to  retard  Wu  Hoo  Git's  august 
progress.  But,  forget  not  that  our  hero  is  older 
and  augustly  wiser.  Having  wearied  of  rice  wine 
and  song  girls,  he  now  approaches  the  portals  of 
celestial  philosophy.  All  men  approach  the  god 
like  realms  of  thoughtful  sufficiency  after  the 
bodily  attainments  wane.  I  bow. 

Turns  back  to  audience  and  at  gesture  with 
his   fan    tableau   curtains   are   drawn. 
Walks  to  his  table,  center,  as  music  is 
142 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET          143 

played,  before  speaking.  Four  stools 
have  been  placed  across  stage  center, 
spaces  between  them.  Property  man 
discovered  sitting  on  stool  right  center. 
When  Chorus  gets  to  table  he  rises  and 
indicates  the  scene. 

CHORUS 

The  Daffodil  takes  his  steps  among  his  mul 
berry  bushes,  watching  the  silkworms  spin  while 
he  threads  his  brain  with  evil. 

Music  continues.  Daffodil  enters,  comes  to 
stool  left  center,  does  business  of  smell 
ing  imaginary  bushes,  then  goes  to  cen 
ter.  Property  man  brings  flowers  for 
him  to  smell, — which  he  waves  aside 
scornfully.  Property  man  returns  flow 
ers  to  box  left  and  then  crosses  to  right 
at  back  and  stands  at  upper  end  of  dra 
pery,  which  is  hung  to  form  a  screen 
about  a  chair  placed  upon  a  table  against 
wall  right  and  represents  the  Daffodil's 
palace.  Piano  during  speech. 

Wu  FAH  DIN 

I  apologize  for  the  apparent  inadequacy  of  my 
brain  against  Wu  Hoo  Git's  brawn.  I  am  as  dis 
appointed  as  you  are  that  I  have  not  been  able  to 
kill  this  young  Wu  Hoo  Git.  Bear  with  me,  how 
ever,  for  I  will  eventually  do  so.  Wu  Hoo  Git 


144          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

not  only  lives,  but  starts  on  a  journey  to  take  my 
place  in  life  and  despatch  me.  Such  a  result  would 
be  deplorable,  as  you  know.  I  had  with  my  kind 
ness  of  nature  planned  for  him  a  gently  lingering 
death.  I  must  now  unkindly  kill  him  outright, 
for  your  entertainment.  I  must  be  most  careful 
in  so  doing,  for,  if  I  kill  him,  despising  brute 
force  as  I  do,  my  subjects,  who  should  be  his  sub 
jects,  would  immortalize  him  and  the  truth  would 
come  out.  I  have  discovered  some  truths  also 
about  myself  which  I  prefer  not  to  have  known. 
I  shall  retire  to  my  palace 

Indicates  it  and  moves  up  right.    Property 
man  dusts  drapery. 

and  on  my  cushioned  throne,  watch  from  its  bat 
tlements. 

Ascends  throne.    Screened  by  drapery. 

I  invoke  all  the  subtle  forces  of  my  brain  against 
Wu  Hoo  Git's  brawn.  I  will  impede  his  journey 
toward  my  person  and  my  throne.  I  will  throw 
death  evils  in  his  pathway.  I  will  place  before 
him  a  lofty  mountain  peak — that  he  may  exhaust 
himself  in  climbing  over  it.  I  direct  the  battle 
with  my  fan. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  145 

Disappears  behind  drapery.  Property 
man's  assistants  move  two  tables  from 
left.  Place  them  center,  touching  each 
other,  and  put  two  stools  which  are  now 
underneath  the  tables  on  top  of  them. 
Property  man  crosses  right,  below 
tables,  and  stands  at  upper  end  of  them. 

CHORUS 
'Tis  a  lofty  mountain  peak. 

Property  man  rests  elbow  on  upper  stool 
and  puts  head  in  his  hands.  Enter  Wu 
Hoo  Git  and  Git  Hok  Gar.  Music. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
Crosses  to  center,  below  table. 

Show  me  the  battle-ground.  Must  I  contend 
here,  or  shall  I  wander  farther? 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

Left. 

No  man  can  foresee  his  battle-ground.  Every 
shadow  or  darkening  cloud  may  bring  him  peril. 
The  way  grows  long.  Think,  my  boy. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Crossing  to  Git  Hok  Gar. 
I  can  think  when  I  am  dead.    Love  quickens 


146          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

my  desire  for  triumphant  vengeance,  that  I  may 
conquer  all,  secure  my  throne,  and  place  Plum 
Blossom  on  a  seat  of  love  beside  me. 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

Turning,  looks  at  imaginary  mountain, 
center. 

What!    Must  we  drag  ourselves  over  another 
mountain,  with  its  ragged  roof  ? 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  shall  o'ertop  them  all,  for  nothing  shall  stay 
my  progress. 

Climbs  to  top  of  stools  on  table,  center,  as 
sisting  himself  by  holding  imaginary 
branches.  Then  helps  Git  Hok  Gar  to 
mount  table. 

From  the  o'ertopping  view  I  see  the  tiled  roof 
where  bides  Plum  Blossom.  I  see  my  home,  too, 
and  peacefulness  behind  me. 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

And  before  you  monsters,  terrors  and  murder 
to  overcome. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  147 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  care  not,  for  all  my  tasks  now  are  born  of 
love.  Come  on ! 

Starts  to  descend  from  table.  As  he  places 
foot  on  stool  right  of  table,  cymbals 
crash. 

I  feel  a  hand  of  ice  encircling  my  sublime  leg. 
GIT  HOK  GAR 

It  is  an  evil  stream  spirit  that  would  drag  you 
in.  Cleave  it  with  your  fiery  sword. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  would  desperately  cleave, 

Starts  to  draw  sword. 
but  it  is  gone. 

Turning  to  Git  Hok  Gar,  smiling. 

It  overheard  my  solemn  thought.  You  can 
crush  enemies  and  friends  with  the  weight  of  the 
tongue. 

Descends  to  stage,  assists  Git  Hok  Gar  to 
descend  and  they  exeunt  right.  Music. 
Property  man's  assistant  takes  one  table 
and  stool  and  moves  it  left.  Another 
removes  the  far  table  and  stool  to  left. 


I48          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 
Wu  FAH  DIN 

Appears  above  drapery. 

He  is  such  an  impetuous  youth,  is  he  not  ?  See 
how  madly  he  is  rushing  into  the  dangers  I  am 
preparing  for  him.  His  climbing  of  that  moun 
tain  was  a  mere  exhibition  of  brawn.  I  will  con 
front  him  with  the  raging  torrent. 

Retires  behind  drapery.  Property  man 
crosses  to  right,  picks  up  end  of  plank 
which  lies  below  the  two  stools.  Assist 
ant  picks  up  left  end  of  plank.  As  they 
place  it  on  stools  property  man  pretends 
to  have  hurt  his  finger.  Another  assist 
ant  looks  at  it  sympathetically.  Prop 
erty  man  indicates  scene  and  they  retire 
to  left. 

CHORUS 

Tis  a  wayward  river  and  bridge. 
Wu  FAH  DIN 

'Rises  behind  drapery. 

Bridge!  Bridge!  I  had  hopes  of  this  river, 
but  my  gentle  mind  overlooked  the  bridge.  How 
ever,  it  may  be  a  weak  bridge. 

Retires  behind  drapery.  Wu  Hoo  Git  and 
Git  Hok  Gar  enter  door  left.  Music  for 
entrance.  They  come  to  left  center. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  149 

GIT  HOK  GAR 
Water  confronts  us. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
But  see,  a  span  of  thoughtful  kindness  awaits  us. 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

The  chasm  is  so  deep  and  chill  and  the  way 
across  so  narrow.  Let  us  go  about  and  find  a 
safer  crossing. 

He  crosses  down  to  extreme  left. 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Come  on!  It  has  been  left  us  by  brave  souls 
who  have  passed  before. 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

So  in  all  journeys  in  life,  bridges  have  been 
built  by  those  who  left  their  deeds  behind  them. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Armored  with  courage,  I  draw  my  sword  of 
progress !  The  end  will  never  be  seen  if  my  first 
footfall  weakens. 

Steps  on  bridge  from  left.     Falls  to  his 
knee. 


150          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 
I  stumble  to  my  knee. 

GIT  HOK  GAR 
The  gods  would  make  you  humble  at  starting. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
A  silent  prayer  to  the  baby-mother  message. 

He  prayerfully  kisses  garment. 

Behold !    The  spirits  are  satisfied.    They  rock  us 
not. 

Git  Hok  Gar  mounts  bridge  from  left. 

In  the  water,  mirrored  below,  I  see  a  face  like  my 
own.    It  has  lines  of  evil  in  it. 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

The  serpent  lines  of  your  father's  face  crawl  in 
yours  by  reflection. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Is  my  face  a  snake's  nest  ?    What  must  I  do  to 

cleanse  it? 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

Bathe  it  in  the  sunshine  of  virtue. 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Behold!  over  my  father's  shoulder  grins  the 
fox's  face  again  that  molests  my  sight. 


THE    YELLOW   JACKET  151 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

It  is  Tai  Fah  Min,  who  gloats  at  your  struggle 
to  be  free  from  the  curse  of  a  father's  crime. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
iWhatshallldo? 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

Purify  your  soul  and  he  will  flee  with  the  snake 

face. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

In  the  mirror  of  the  sublime  water  I  now  be 
hold  precipices,  depths,  valleys,  snow-encircled 
peaks!  Birds  swim  in  the  pearly  air  below  the 
clouds  like  fishes  in  the  clear  stream  beneath.  The 
fox  face  again  molests  my  sight!  I  will  consult 
my  garment  of  direction. 

Observing  garment  again. 

The  lines  trickle  toward  the  eastern  path  at  the 
bridge's  end;  with  mother  blood-drops  larger  to 
indicate  the  way.  Come  on !  For  Plum  Blossom 
I  conquer  on  earth  and  in  Heaven. 

Gets  off  bridge  to  right. 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

Following  him. 


152  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

My  brave  boy.  We  step  upon  a  tiny  peak  of 
yellow  rock. 

Music.  They  exeunt  right.  Property  man 
and  assistant  remove  stools  and  plank, 
leaving  stage  clear. 

Wu  FAH  DIN 

Appears. 

It  is  useless  for  me  to  tell  you  of  the  fear  in  his 
heart  as  he  crossed  that  bridge.  He  was  con 
tinually  calling  out  for  a  woman.  I  will  throw 
an  inky  darkness  in  his  path,  that  it  may  affright 

him. 

Retires  behind  drapery. 

CHORUS 
Tis  a  thunder-cloud. 

Music.  Loy  Gong  enters  door  right, 
stamps  around  in  a  circle  just  inside 
door,  finishing,  right  center. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Enters  door  left  with  Git  Hok  Gar.  Comes 
to  left  center. 

Who  are  you  that  impedes  my  way  with  clam 
orous  noise  ? 

LOY  GONG 

I  am  Loy  Gong,  the  God  of  Thunder,  requested 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  153 

by  a  world  power  to  o'ershadow  you.  I  keep 
mortal  aspirations  down  for  the  other  gods 
through  bellowing  fear. 

Hits  standard  with  hammer.    Cymbals. 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

But  I  fear  you  not.  My  wisdom  buds  with 
courage,  impregnable  to  gods  and  man,  and 
teaches  me  that  every  word-might  or  heavenly 
power  has  one  still  higher  before  whom  it  quails 
— called  love. 

LOY  GONG 

And  what  is  love? 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
For  me,  Plum  Blossom. 

LOY  GONG 

And  what  flower  fear  I  when  the  floor  of 
Heaven  bends  beneath  my  tread? 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

The  sky-flower — the  august  rainbow  of  good 
thoughts  and  deeds ! 

Loy  Gong  drops  hammer. 

Before  its  seven  light- rays  you  crouch  in  silence. 


154          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

LOY  GONG 

Fearfully : 

I  would  fill  your  purse,  to  keep  my  secret,  for  if 
my  weakness  were  known  to  man,  I  should  lose 
my  solemn  fearfulness. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

With  contempt: 

My  wisdom  can  not  be  purchased. 
LOY  GONG 

I  will  welcome  you  on  my  icy  peaks  and  whis 
per  music  to  you. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

When  I  arrive  on  your  august  peaks,  I  care  not 
what  tones  you  take,  for  I  shall  have  within  my 
veins  the  warmth  of  Plum  Blossom's  love. 

LOY  GONG 

Goes  toward  door  right. 

I  withdraw  my  august  self  in  fearfulness  of 

wisdom. 

Exits  door  right.    Music. 

GIT  HOK  GAR 
Crosses  to  Wu  Hoo  Git,  center. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  155 

You  have  met  the  most  fearful  of  the  gods  and 
vanquished  him. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Give  me  the  earth  to  conquer,  that  the  earth 
may  no  longer  deny  me  my  heritage  and  my  Plum 
Blossom's  love. 

End  of  speech  in  doorway.  Exeunt  right. 

Wu  FAH  DIN 

Appears. 

This  makes  me  decidedly  uncomfortable.  What 
tripping  potency  has  he  to  overcome  a  god  ?  Can 
it  be  that  he  is  coupling  brain  with  brawn  ?  My 
seat  of  dignity  rocks  in  fearfulness.  Let  Kom  Loi 
ensnare  and  slay  him. 

Property  man  brings  a  large  web  made  of 
gold  string  which  is  tied  on  a  frame 
work  of  wood  with  thread  and  sets  it 
up,  right,  leaning  sleepily  against  it. 
Enter  Kom  Loi,  as  Spider,  and  takes 
position  back  of  webt  right. 

•  CHORUS 
'Tis  a  golden  spider-web. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Entering  left  with  Git  Hok  Gar,  crosses  to 
right,  stops  in  front  of  web. 


156          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

What  is  this  tangled  mesh  that  stretches  from 
earth  to  Heaven  and  pretends  to  bar  my  way  with 
petty  entanglements  ?  My  celestial  curiosity  leads 

me  to  inquire. 

KOM  Loi 

I  beckon  your  sublime  presence. 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

It  invites  me  with  a  gentle  voice.  I  am  led  to 
desire  a  closer  view. 

KOM  Loi 

Let  me  encircle  you  with  the  beauties  and  love- 
knots  of  friendship. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Its  voice  is  as  gentle  as  Plum  Blossom's.     It 

must  be  my  friend. 

Peeps. 

I  see  but  indistinctly  through  the  fluttering  weave 
of  rainbow  lights  the  faces  of  Wu  Sin  Yin  and 
Tai  Fah  Min  directing  malice.  I  will  observe 
more  closely. 

Wets  'finger  and  makes  slit  in  web. 

KOM  Loi 

Enraged  voice, 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  157 

Beware!  I  asked  you  to  enter  my  abode  as  a 
friend.  You  stick  your  finger  in  the  eye  of  my 
hospitality.  Beware ! 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Looking  up. 

An  august  Spider  and  his  enchanting  web ! 

Frightened. 
GIT  HOK  GAR 

The  thing  is  dangerous  and  I  am  a  man  of 
peace.  I  will  depart  my  footsteps  to  the  other 
side  of  the  mountain. 

Picks  up  chair,  crosses  left,  sits  facing  left. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

To  Spider. 
I  repent  my  fault. 

KOM  Loi 

Repentance  may  help  your  soul,  but  will  not  re- 
weave  the  strands  in  which  I  catch  human  flies 
that  would  know  my  lair.  You  shall  die. 

Spider   bursts  forth  and   throws  silken 
strands. 

tWu  Hoo  GIT 

Frightened: 


158          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

It  is  an  evil  thing  that  has  entangled  me  for  vice 
of  curiosity. 

KOM  Loi 
Beware ! 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  am  in  the  Spider's  eyes — a  web  of  light  dances 
'twixt  his  demon  seeing-sockets  and  mine.  It  is 
an  august  new  power  that  holds  me  fast.  I  must 
use  my  sublime  brain,  for  the  spider  has  not  my 
sublime  brain.  I  possess  a  celestial  thought.  I 
will  cut  with  my  sword  the  eye-chain  that  binds 
me  to  the  monster.  I  cut  with  my  impressive 

sword. 

Starts  back. 

I  am  free  to  meet  him  now — man  to  Spider ! 

Spider  throws  out  silk  ribbon  rolls  from 
web. 

He  spits  witch  daggers  at  me,  to  destroy  my  love 
and  life.  I  augustly  sever  them.  I  observe  I  am 
celestially  his  unequal  match. 

Spider  throws  more  silk  strands  at  him, 
furnished  by  property  man.  He  cuts 
them  at  first.  Finally  he  becomes  tied 
up  in  many  strands  and  falls. 

I  am  woven  in  the  web  of  evil.    My  sword  hacks 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  159 

but  cuts  not.  The  web  dulls  its  fiery  edge.  I  am 
being  tied  to  the  earth- rocks !  I  have  a  thought. 
I  will  call  Plum  Blossom.  I  will  shake  the  slipper. 

Shakes  slipper. 

Moy  Fah  Loy,  Moy  Fah  Loy,  save  me ! 
MOY  FAH  LOY 

Enters  door  to  Heaven,  center,  above  as  a 
disembodied  spirit.  Kom  Loi  attempts 
to  throw  more  ribbons,  but  is  stopped  by 
Plum  Blossom's  voice. 

The  slipper  shook.  The  earth  stood  still.  The 
winds  blew  me  here.  I  command  the  demon 
Spider  to  depart. 

KOM  Loi 

Makes  another  attempt  to  throw  ribbons 
— stops  with  arm  in  mid-air. 

My  web  spins  not.  My  joints  crinkle  in  the  light 
of  purity.  I  seek  the  dark. 

Exits  door  right,  stepping  through  web. 
Music.  Property  man  removes  frame, 
gathers  up  silk  strands,  takes  them  off, 
door  right. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Proudly.    Down  left. 


160          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

The  strands  about  me  melt  in  celestial  light. 
The  Spider  withers  before  my  exalted  gaze.  I 
feel  in  my  expanding  soul  the  power  to  o'ercome 
all  monsters  wild.  I  would  that  Plum  Blossom 
might  see  my  unaided  triumph.  She  would  adore 
my  fiery  bravery. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

Moy  Fah  Loy  sees  all  and  knows  all. 

Music. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Crosses  to  center,  listening. 

Plum  Blossom's  rippling  voice,  yet  I  behold  her 

not. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

I  am  the  disembodied  soul  of  her  you  loved  so 
constantly,  permitted  for  a  moment  only  with 
heavenly  vision  to  behold  you. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Sees  her. 

Wherefore  do  you  approach  me  on  the  steps  of 
Heaven?  Why  does  a  dazzling  halo  of  light  glo 
riously  encircle  you  like  dew-drops  on  a  star? 
What  evil  one  has  snatched  you  from  the  flower 
paths  of  earth,  where  you  were  sublimely  mine, 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  161 

to  place  you  beyond  my  human  ecstasy?  I  shall 
know ;  and,  if  it  be  one  of  earth,  my  sword  shall 
avenge  our  parting;  if  it  be  one  who  has  passed 
beyond,  my  pursuing  spirit  shall  follow  him  and 
knife  him  with  the  blasts  of  anguish. 

Crosses  up  to  right  center. 
MOY  FAH  LOY 

You  shook  the  slipper  and  I  came  in  your  hour 

of  need. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  shook  it  that  you  might  behold  my  hour  of 
august  victory.  Alone,  I  vanquished  the  beast  of 
the  fields. 

Property  man  and  assistant  bring  table  on 
which  are  two  stools  to  center.  Wu 
Hoo  Git  takes  one  stool,  places  it  right, 
at  table,  the  other  stool  remaining  on 
table. 

I  will  build  a  mountain  that  shall  kiss  high 
Heaven,  and  on  the  top  of  it  I  will  cone  ten  thou 
sand  thousand  peaks  till,  topping  the  highest  with 
my  dainty  foot,  you  palpitate  within  my  august 

arms. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

We  palpitate  not  in  Heaven, 


1 62  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
Despite  the  terror  of  your  thought,  I  ascend. 

Climbs  on  table  impulsively. 
MOY  FAH  LOY 

Ascend  not,  for  all  men  who  strive  to  build  a 
Heaven  ladder  and  know  the  secrets  of  the  gods 
have  met  with  defeat  and  punishment. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

But  my  ladder  is  love-woven  and  each  rung  is 
a  love  strand  upon  which  the  humblest  may  tip 
toe  to  Heaven. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

But  it  must  be  born  of  love  you  know  not  of. 
My  prayers  alone  must  guide  you,  not  myself. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Climbs  to  top  of  chair  on  table,  back  to 
audience.    Music. 

I  would  place  the  kiss  of  august  victory  upon 
your  painted  lips. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 
I  have  no  lips. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  163 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  would  take  you  in  my  glorious  arms  that  your 
heart  might  impress  your  hero's  heart. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 
I  have  no  heart. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
But  stand  you  not  on  venerable  legs? 

MOY  FAH  LOY 
I  stand  on  thinnest  air.    I  have  no  legs. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

No  legs  in  Heaven !  Then  you  are  false  to  me 
and  unworthy  of  my  glorious  victory. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

I  know  not  arms,  nor  legs,  nor  kisses.  I  left 
my  body  at  home  for  my  celestial  father,  Tai 
Char  Shoong,  to  guard  till  your  return. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Turns  on  stool  facing  audience. 
It  was  an  august  oversight.    You  should  have 


164          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

brought  your  impressive  body  with  you.     I  de 
scend  from  Heaven. 

Climbs  down  right  of  table. 
MOY  FAH  LOY 

I  go  and  leave  you  to  your  august  way. 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Stay  but  a  little.  Give  me  some  exchange  of 
sweetness,  my  rose  of  Heaven. 

Property  man  takes  stool  off  table  and 
places  it  left.    Music  stops. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

The  small  space  of  time  I  have  to  encourage 
you  is  spent.  I  can  tarry  but  a  breath  time,  then 
breathe  myself  away. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Then  float  guiding  on,  in  your  cloud-like  boat 
to  inspire  my  aching  heart,  and  I  will  follow,  till 
the  world  is  mine  and  nothing  left  to  conquer. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

I  can  but  leave  the  promise  of  fragrance  to 
come,  for  the  petals  of  my  love  are  not  yet  full 
blown  to  answer  you.  The  zephyr-wagon  blows 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  165 

homeward  and  I  must  ride  with  it  or  lose  my  way. 
Farewell ! 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Stay !  Stay !  Love  is  never  lost  for  heroism  is 
born  of  it. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

Love  is  in  the  heart  when  far  away. 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Love  is  in  the  heart,  always.  When  next  you 
come  forget  not  to  bring  your  exalted  lips. 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

I  shall  augustly  remember,  for  I  observe  man 
knows  not  woman  without  her  lips.  I  depart  for 
my  body. 

She  exits  upper  door  center.  Music.  Wu 
Hoo  Git  mounts  stool  right  of  table, 
holds  out  his  arms  toward  Moy  Fah 
Loy,  then  turns  to  Git  Hok  Gar  who  has 
crossed  to  upper  left-hand  corner  of 
table. 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

I  observe  your  eyes  roll  with  unfailing  tears, 
your  lips  are  heavy  with  undelivered  kisses  of 
farewell. 


1 66          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
There  is  no  place  to  remove  them. 

Comes  down  center. 
Give  me  back  my  Moy  Fah  Loy,  even  in  spirit. 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

Left  center. 

Experience  and  years  only  can  know  spirit  love. 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

We  must  climb  still  higher  into  the  golden  way. 
I  would  fear  to  meet  more  elements,  if  it  were  not 
that  I  had  embraced  disembodied  Plum  Blossom 
and  know  that  nothing  can  harm  me  now. 

Exeunt  door  right. 

Assistant  property  man  removes  table  and 
stool  to  left. 

Wu  FAH  DIN 
Appears  above  drapery.  Watches  them  off. 

I  surmised  not  he  had  a  slipper.  It  is  a  most 
dangerous  potency  to  overcome.  It  upsets  my 
plans  frightfully.  I  must  contrive  a  way  to  get  it. 

What  barks? 

Terror. 


THE    YELLOW   JACKET  167 

I  summoned  nothing  of  this  nature.  Can  it  be 
Wu  Hoo  Git  has  sent  this  monster  after  me 
while  I  was  cogitating  his  destruction  ? 

To  attendant  below: 

Ask  who  it  is?  Speak  to  it  boldly  or  I  will  toss 
you  at  it  bodily. 

ATTENDANT 

Hesitates. 
Who  are  you  ? 

TAI  FAH  MIN 

With  fox  head  on. 

You  may  not  know  me  in  this  guise,  but  I  am 
a  fox  spirit,  and  being  a  fox,  I  have  changed  my 
form,  so  fear  not.  My  brain  is  the  brain  of  Tai 
Fah  Min,  the  second  father-in-law  of  Wu  Sin  Yin, 
and  so  your  grandfather.  I  come  to  help  you  to 
wreak  mischief  on  Wu  Hoo  Git.  I  might  have 
accomplished  all  of  my  iniquity  but  death  came 
along  and  took  me.  The  gods  were  kind,  how 
ever,  and  on  my  path  to  the  spirit  world  I  stum 
bled  on  a  fox  body,  unused  some  days  by  the  de 
parted  fox,  and  sublimely  climbed  into  it.  So 
I  was  released  from  an  abode  in  the  depths  to 
prowl  and  help  you  in  your  mischief  on  Wu  Hoo 


1 68          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

Git.  I  shall  hinder  him  of  success;  if  my  tail  be 
not  cut  off  in  the  bloody  encounter  which  must 
ensue  I  shall  do  him  murder.  He  shall  perish  and 
then  you  rule  unmolested. 

He  struts  up  stage. 

I  will  take  on  a  frightful  shape.  I  can  swim,  I  can 
run.  He  shall  not  escape  me.  I  have  a  reason ;  I 

have  a  tail. 

Exits  right. 

Wu  FAH  DIN 

^Exultantly: 

I  have  cause  to  be  proud  of  my  ancestors.  I 
banish  trembling  fear  and  all  kindness  from  my 
heart.  The  traditions  of  my  family  attend  upon 
my  wisdom.  My  grandfather  is  here  to  aid  me. 
With  such  mighty  strength,  my  bloody  conten 
tion  is  no  longer  wit  against  wit,  brawn  against 
brawn ;  for  I  meet  him  with  all  the  venom  of  my 
heritage.  I  have  him  now. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Enters  with  GitHok  Gar  left. 

But  tell  me.  When  you  trod  this  path  in  youth 
did  such  things  impede  your  way? 


THE  DAFFODIL. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  169 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

No,  I  had  none  to  envy  me,  but  you  are  born 
to  opposition  because  of  the  rights  you  seek. 

Down  left.  Messenger  enters  to  Daffodil 
with  red  papers  up  right. 

Wu  FAH  DIN 

Now  for  the  slipper  and  his  death !  My  mes 
sage  is  from  my  grandfather,  who  you  know  is 
Tai  Fah  Min.  You  will  see  what  a  terrible  shape 
he  will  assume.  Prepare  your  flowery  handker 
chiefs  for  the  flood  of  tears  which  you  will  shed 
at  the  death  of  Wu  Hoo  Git. 

Horrible  monster  tiger  enters  down  right, 
assisted  by  property  man,  who  lights 
fuse  in  nostrils  and  dusts  head,  which 
conceals  Tai  Fah  Min.  Its  body  is  sup 
ported  by  an  assistant  inside. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

What  monster  approaches  me — with  lightning 
orbs,  thunder  voice,  and  meandering  gait  of  hor 
ror?  Bring  him  nearer  that  I  may  pierce  his 
armor  with  my  flashing  eyes ! 

GIT  HOK  GAR 
Fearfully.    Crosses  center  to  tiger. 


170          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

It  is  the  tiger- father  of  all  tigers !  Its  claws  dig 

graves. 

Roar  from  tiger. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
What  language  speaks  it  ?    I  understand  it  not. 

GIT  HOK  GAR 
It  is  the  language  of  death. 

Urges  Wu  Hoo  Git  back. 

I  am  old  and  must  perish  soon.    You  are  young, 

so  run! 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Not  I. 

Crosses  to  center. 

I  shall  augustly  sever  it  to  crown  my  love  with 

victory. 

Tiger  roars. 

GIT  HOK  GAR 
It  thunders  answer.    Flee ! 

Wu  Hob  GIT 
Not  I. 

Moves  down  front  and  around  tiger,  which 
crosses  to  center.  Dismembers  body 
with  sword.  Assistant  runs. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  171 

The  head  runs  without  legs.    I  like  it  not. 
TAI  FAH  MIN 

Within  tiger's  head. 

I  have  you  now.  Crumble  before  my  bark; 
shriek  at  my  snap ;  die  at  my  bite.  I  am  Tai  Fah 

Min. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Who  conspired  with  my  father,  Wu  Sin  Yin, 
to  depart  my  beloved  mother,  Chee  Moo. 

TAI  FAH  MIN 

I  assault  you  with  my  teeth.  I  would  glori 
ously  chew  you  and  honorably  digest  you,  for, 
while  you  live,  you  menace  the  glorious  future  of 
my  daughter's  child. 

They  fight.     Cymbals,  drums,  etc. 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  chop  your  throat.  I  cut  it  with  fiery  blade 
from  ear  to  ear. 

TAI  FAH  MIN 
I  mind  it  not. 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

It  is  invulnerable.    It  is  a  fox. 


172  THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  augustly  neglected  the  thought.    I  will  sever 

its  tail. 

Cuts  off  tail  and  stamps  on  it. 

TAI  FAH  MIN 

Falls. 

I  am  undone  without  my  brush.  'Tis  murder 
most  unkind. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Proudly: 

Kind  or  unkind,  I  contemptuously  tread  upon 
it  with  my  sublime  foot. 

Music.  Property  man  places  ladder  center. 
GIT  HOK  GAR 

Crosses  to  above  -fox,  lying  on  floor  cen 
ter  in  tiger  skin. 

Know,  unhappy  fox  spirit,  this  glorious  boy, 
seeking  vengeance  for  a  mother,  places  you  in  a 
clean  soul  dress  at  Heaven's  threshold  in  return 
for  your  unwonted  crimes.  You  should  die  in 

thankfulness. 

Moves  left  again. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
What!    I  would  repent  my  graciousness. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  173 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

You  can  not ;  you  must  be  noble  now.  The  lan 
tern  of  his  life  is  flickering. 

TAI  FAH  MIN 

Comes  out  of  head  and  dress. 
I   humbly  repent   everything   for  a   sight  of 
Heaven.    I  prayerfully  and  peacefully  die. 

Property  man  places  pillow  under  his  head. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Be  augustly  leisurely  about  it  then.  I  do  not 
wish  to  be  impatient. 

Wu  FAH  DIN 

He  trades  me  and  my  important  office  for 
Heaven. 

Tai  Fah  Min  dies,  crawls  out  of  tiger 
skin,  and  afterward  he  gets  up  and 
walks  to  ladder  center.  Property  man 
stops  him  and  looks  at  Wu  Hoo  Git. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Going  up  to  ladder. 

Stay!  You  can  not  yet  aspire  to  the  celestial 
bliss  where  dwells  my  mother  whose  blood  is  on 
your  hands.  Depart  below. 


174          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 
TAI  FAH  MIN 
Crosses  to  door  right.    Snarls. 

May  Plum  Blossom  never  sweeten  your  pres 
ence  again. 

Exits  door  right. 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Moves  to  door  with  sword,   then  turns 
front. 

Like    all    dying   men    he    would    trade    with 

Heaven. 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

Philosophy  is  ever  victorious  in  warfare. 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Not  philosophy,  love.     The  body  of  the  tiger 
which  I  severed  now  bars  my  august  path. 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

I  would  triumphantly  mount  over  it. 

Property  man  removes  tiger  and  pillow, 
folding  up  pillow. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Observing. 

It  mounts  for  itself.    It  departs  before  me. 

'Grandly. 


THE    YELLOW   JACKET  175 

I  notice  such  things  not. 

Exeunt  right. 

Wu  FAH  DIN 

If  I  triumph  I  will  come  out  and  view  him. 
If  I  fail  I  wish  not  to  view  my  failure.  I  will  part 
him  from  his  friend.  I  will  freeze  him  into  noth 
ingness. 

Disappears. 

CHORUS 

Rises. 
'Tis  a  snow-storm. 

Music.  Property  man's  assistants  enter 
doors  right  and  left  with  white  flags 
rolled  with  cut  paper,  which  they  shake 
out.  They  come  down  stage,  cross  and 
exeunt  opposite  doors  from  which  they 
enter.  Property  man  walks  to  center 
ivith  tray  of  cut  paper  which  he  throws 
into  the  air,  over  his  shoulders,  then 
crosses  to  left  again. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Entering  left  with  Git  Hok  Gart  crosses  to 
right  center. 

What  is  this  blast  which  confronts  us?  What 
is  this  that  freezes  up  the  warmth  of  your  kind 
ness? 


1 76          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 
GIT  HOK  GAR 

It  is  my  welcome  shroud  for  which  I  long  have 
waited.  You  have  grown  so  fat  in  wisdom  you 
need  me  not.  Bow  me  a  farewell.  I  am  approach 
ing  my  robe  of  wood.  Take  my  august  covering 
to  warm  your  worth.  I  need  it  not  on  my  jour 
ney. 

Having  taken  off  coat  offers  it  to  Wit  Hoo 
Git. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Nay,  you  must. 

Pushing  away  coat. 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

I  need  it  not.  Put  goodness  in  yourself,  to  shut 
out  cold.  The  mountain's  peak  of  life  is  now  in 
view  for  you.  From  its  bleak  nose  you  can  see 
the  riches  of  the  world  and  your  path  beyond.  If 
the  wisdom  you  have  purchased  on  your  journey 
abides  with  you,  it  will  be  as  gloriously  fanciful 
as  a  summer's  sea. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Putting  coat  around  shoulders  of  Git  Hok 
Gar. 

Is  it  decreed  that  I  must  mount  alone? 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  177 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

Every  man  must  look  into  the  Garden  of  his 
soul  alone.  My  journey  is  done.  My  life  is  spent. 
Yours  is  only  begun.  I  die. 

Falls  to  stage.  Property  man  puts  pillow 
under  his  head,  kneeling  above  him; 
spreads  white  cloth  over  him,  then  pulls 
out  his  beard,  spreading  it  on  white 
sheet.  Music. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Die  not  so  easily!  Snow  crowns  your  gray 
hair  with  the  peace  of  death.  I  am  blinded,  too, 
in  white  crystals  that  sparkle  upon  me. 

Covers  his  face  with  his  hands.  Git  Hok 
Gar  throws  off  white  sheet.  Rises,  goes 
up  center,  turns — looks  at  Wu  Hoo  Git, 
smiling  and  with  gesture  of  blessing. 
Climbs  ladder  to  Heaven.  Center  open 
ing  above.  Leaves  his  coat  in  snow 
where  he  died. 

CHORUS 
He  ascends  to  Heaven ! 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
Places  hands  over  coat  of  Git  Hok  Gar, 


1 7$          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

I  put  the  warmth  of  my  youthful  hands  upon 
you  to  give  you  life.  You  are  dead  and  gone 
from  me. 

GIT  HOK  GAR 

Above. 
I  live  above  the  coldness  of  the  world. 

Exits  off  right.    Music  stops. 
Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Holding  white  sheet  over  Git  Hok  Gar's 
cloak  on  floor. 

I  build  an  icy  tablet  to  his  memory.  I  sink,  I 
freeze. 

Falls  to  stage. 

I  would  shake  the  slipper,  but  it  is  a  block  of 
august  ice.  Moy  Fah  Loy !  Plum  Blossom !  You, 
too,  desert  me  in  my  hour  of  death. 

Property  man  crosses  with  tray  of  snow  in 
one  hand.  Places  pillow  under  his  head. 
Puts  tray  of  snow  on  ladder  center. 

I  augustly  pronounce  myself  passed  to  my  ances 
tors. 

Property  man  covers  him  with  white  sheet. 

Dumps  tray  of  cut  paper  on  sheet  and 

crosses  to  left  and  sits. 

CHEE  Moo 
'Enters  above  as  spirit  from  rig'ht. 


THE   YELLOW  JACKET          179 

I  am  Chee  Moo,  your  honorable  mother,  who 
wrote  your  story  in  my  blood.  May  the  sweet 
ness  of  my  Heaven-prayer  bring  warmth  into 
your  world-body. 

NUNG  Fu 

Enters  door  left  with  hoe. 

Here  is  a  man  snow-bound  and  chill.  I  dig 
him  out  with  my  farm  hoe. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Moy  Fah  Loy?  My  words  are  frozen.  She 
hears  me  not. 

NUNG  Fu 

He  must  be  august  to  have  climbed  so  high. 
An  icicle  kiss  melts  upon  his  lips.  He  is  thinking 
of  some  one.  Then  there  still  is  life. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Lead  me  to  the  mountain  top  one  august  step 
above  that  I  may  see  the  world  of  love  and  my 
inner  self. 

CHEE  Moo 

Above,  not  seen. 
It  is  yours,  my  child,  my  Wu  Hoo  Git ! 


i8o          THE    YELLOW   JACKET 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
What  voice  was  that? 

NUNG  Fu 
I  heard  naught. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  dream  in  iciness.  Lead  on,  for  it  is  not  in 
grandeur  that  we  learn  to  know,  but  guided  by  the 
simplicity  of  nature's  guardian  of  the  soil  we  see 
with  child  eyes  again  all  the  loveliness  of  the 
world  from  the  mountain  peak  of  progress.  How 
bright  and  glorious  the  sun  shines!  Its  imperial 
golden  liquid  light  dazzles  my  eyes.  The  sky  be 
comes  one  huge  brass  bowl  save  for  that  one  little 
gray  cloud  out  yonder. 

Pointing  above  audience  front. 
NUNG  Fu 

Screening  eyes  with  hands. 

I  see  no  cloud  there,  but  here  the  sky  has  a  gray 
cloud — my  mother's  soul  cloud. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Then  the  one  I  see  is  my  mother  soul  cloud. 
So  with  every  golden  shower  of  happiness  there 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  181 

is  a  touch  of  gray — for  one  must  pause  in  hap 
piness  to  shed  a  tear  for  a  mother  heavenward 
passed. 

Sitting  up. 

The  jacket  burns  into  my  soul  and  conquers  the 
freezing  chill.  Courage  enwraps  me.  I  shake 
off  the  numbing  iciness  that  congealed  my  veins. 
Am  I  deceived  again  or  are  my  eyes  at  last  open 
to  the  circling  vision  of  realities  which  were  only 
dreams  ? 

Rises.    Goes  to  door  right. 

I'll  toss  my  naked  self  against  the  palace  gates. 
Exeunt.  Chee  Moo  exits  above.  Music. 
Wu  FAH  DIN 

Rises  behind  drapery. 

You  have  heard  his  almost  indelicate  threat. 
I'll  retire  to  the  inner  chamber  of  my  palace  and 
gracefully  lock  myself  in.  I  will  swing  tighter 
the  gate  bars,  wall  myself  about  and  send  a  crip 
pling  force  against  him. 

Descends  from  throne.     Comes  from  be- 
hind  drapery.    Stands  in  doorway  right. 

I  will  await  him  where  my  walls  are  strongest  and 


1 82          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

from  their  top  I  will  pelt  his  ambitious  head  with 
tiles. 

Music.  'Assistant  property  man  removes 
ladder,  placing  it  up  left.  Assistants 
move  the  drapery  on  standards  right 
and  place  it  across  stage  at  back  up  cen 
ter  showing  reverse  side.  An  assistant 
then  gets  table  and  stool  from  left.  An 
other  gets  table  and  chair  from  right. 
They  place  the  tables  center  near  dra 
pery,  one  below  the  other  with  the 
chair  on  the  up-stage  table  and  stool  on 
floor  below  the  down-stage  table.  As 
sistant  exits  right.  Another  assistant 
exits  left.  Property  man  brings  red 
cushion  and  places  it  on  chair  on  table 
center  and  also  places  the  Yellow  Jacket 
folded  in  green  handkerchief  on  right- 
hand  corner  of  lower  table.  He  goes  to 
right  of  drapery  and  motions  for 
Chorus  to  come  out. 

CHORUS 

'Coming  out  from  behind  drapery  goes  to 
right  center.  Music. 

It  is  the  throne-room  of  the  palace  of  Wu  Sin 
Yin,  the  Great,  from  which  our  hero  has  been  de 
prived  so  long. 

Retires  behind  drapery  center.  Music 
forte. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  183 

Wu  FAH  DIN 

Enters  left.  Comes  down  center.  Ascends 
throne.  Property  man  assists  him. 
Cymbals.  Property  man  crosses  to  left, 
then  places  stool  up  left  center  and  sits 
on  itf  back  to  audience.  Music  stops. 

I  am  deserted  by  all,  but  my  self-importance 
still  remains.  I  feel  an  august  valor  born  of  my 
inability  to  get  away,  for  I  am  not  yet  undone. 
Deserted  as  I  am,  I  can  not  be  vanquished.  He 
may  break  down  my  door  bolts.  He  may  trample 
my  flower-beds,  but  when  he  meets  me  face  to 
face  upon  my  throne,  he  will  tremble  before  the 
encircling  power  that  crowns  me  with  the  wealth 
of  ages  and  my  family's  vanquishment. 

Music  for  Wu  Hoo  Git's  entrance.  As 
Wu  Hoo  Git  enters,  property  man  rises 
facing  left  and  holds  stool  in  his  hands. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

^Enters  door  left  with  sword.  Beats  upon 
the  stool  held  by  property  man  four 
times  with  his  sword.  Cymbal  crash  for 
each  stroke.  Property  man  drops  stool, 
then  Wu  Hoo  Git  enters  imaginary 
gate. 

Where  is  the  throne  I  seek  by  right?  Who  sits 
upon  it? 


1 84          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 

Wu  FAH  DIN 
Looking  down  at  him  contemptuously: 

If  courage  stands  high  in  you,  I,  too,  have 
some  in  my  veins,  for  the  blood  of  the  same  father 
enriches  us  both. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Brandishing  sword. 

Usurper!  Think  you  to  stop  my  way,  when  I 
have  met  the  battling  heavens  ?  When  I  have  con 
quered  the  peaks  and  held  their  snow-crowns  until 
they  melted  before  the  warmth  of  my  hand  ? 

Places  one  foot  on  stool  center. 

Descend  before  I  cut  you  to  earth,  and  toss  your 
carcass  from  the  beetling  battlements. 

Steps  back  from  throne. 

Descend,  bow  deeply  and  trade  your  place  for 

mine. 

Wu  FAH  DIN 

Seated  on  throne  chair. 

If  you  will  trade  in  gentleness,  I  will  surrender 
gently.  A  throne  is  most  uncomfortable. 

Rises.    Descends  throne  to  center. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  185 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

The  sun-hued  garment !    I  demand  it ! 
Wu  FAH  DIN 

Goes  to  right  of  table.  Pushes  Yellozv 
Jacket  in  handkerchief  across  table 
toward  Wu  Hoo  Git. 

I  extend  to  you  the  badge  of  office.     I  have 
always  disliked  the  color,  it  is  so  cold. 

Wu  Fah  Din  crosses  to  right  center.  Wu 
Hoo  Git  takes  off  his  own  jacket  and 
hands  It  to  property  man,  who  puts  It  In 
box  left.  Wu  Hoo  Git  then  takes  Yel 
low  Jacket  out  of  handkerchief.  Prop 
erty  man  assists  him  to  put  it  on. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Bump  your  head  to  me. 

Daffodil  kneels  right  center. 

Wu  FAH  DIN 
My  head !    I  am  glad  I  have  a  head  to  bump. 

Bumps  head  twice.    Wood  block. 
May  I  still  retain  it? 


1 86          THE  YELLOW  JACKET 
iWu  Hoo  GIT 

My  first  act  in  assuming  my  power  shall  be  one 
of  mercy.    Choose  your  prison. 

Wu  FAH  DIN 

Looking  up. 

A  garden !  A  garden  filled  with  smiling  flowers. 

Wu  Hoo  Git  makes  a  gesture  of  assent. 
Daffodil  rises. 

Then  I  retire  to  its  fragrance. 

Backs  up  stage.    Exits  right. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
Crosses  to  center,  back  to  audience. 

Victorious  at  last!    I  ascend  the  throne  of  my 
ancestors. 

Music.    He  mounts  throne.    Turns  front 
standing. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

I  sliate  the  slipper  for  my  Plum  Blossom. 

Shakes  slipper.    'Cymbals  crash.    General 
entrance. 

My  Plum  Blossom! 

Music  changes.    Play  piano. 


you? 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  187 

MOY  FAH  LOY 

Crossing  to  him  center  on  one  foot. 
I  guided  them  to  you. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 
Have  you  brought  your  impressive  body  with 

MOY  FAH  LOY 


Yes. 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

Ascend  my  throne. 

She  ascends.    Sits  on  chair. 
Your  slipper  shall  be  my  scepter. 

Puts  it  on  her  foot,  standing  right  of  table 
center. 

MOY  FAH  L'OY 
My  love! 

Wu  Hoo  GIT 

My  Plum  Blossom ! 

All  kneel  and  bow  low. 


1 88          THE    YELLOW   JACKET 
CHEE  Moo 

In  upper  opening  center. 

The  world  and  wisdom  are  his. 

Music. 

TABLEAU  CURTAIN 

Chorus  comes  out  before  tableau  curtains. 
CHORUS 

And  now,  most  august  and  honorable  neigh 
bors,  you  may  bestow  your  kindly  recognition 
upon  my  brothers  as  I  nominate  them  each  in 
turn  and  they  will  personally  augustly  thank  you. 

Tableau  curtains  are  drawn.  Company 
lined  up  across  stage.  Chorus  now 
points  out  each  member  of  the  com 
pany  in  turn,  beginning  with  Chee  Moo, 
then  Wu  Hoo  Git,  Plum  Blossom,  etc., 
indicating  character  first  one  side  of  the 
stage  then  the  other,  property  man  last. 

•> 
CHORUS 

Chee  Moo,  the  mother! 
My  hero! 

Indicating  Wu  Hoo  Git. 
My  little  heroine! 

Indicating  Plum  Blossom. 


THE   YELLOW   JACKET  189 

The  philosopher! 

Indicating  Git  Hok  Gar. 
The  nurse! 

Indicating  See  Noi. 
The  temptress  of  the  flower  boat! 

Indicating  Chow  Wan. 
The  purveyor  of  hearts ! 

Indicating  Yin  Suey  Gong. 
The  daffodil! 

Indicating  Wu  Fah  Din. 
The  farmer  and  his  wife ! 

Indicating  Lee  Sin  and  Suey  Sin  Fah. 
The  widow ! 

Indicating  her. 
Tai  Char  Shoong! 

Indicating  him. 
The  second  wife! 

Indicating  Due  Jung  Fah. 

A  siren ! 

Indicating  See  Quoe  Fah. 


190          THE   YELLOW   JACKET 
And  yet  another  siren ! 

Indicating  Yong  Soo  Kow. 

And  now  quite  visible  to  your  eyes,  our  property 
man. 

Property  man  who  has  been  seated  on  box 
left,  smoking,  rises,  crosses  to  Chorus 
center,  shakes  hands  in  the  Chinese  man 
ner,  bows  to  audience,  crosses  to  right. 

CURTAIN 


THIS   BOOK  IS  DUE  ON   THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED   BELOW 

RENEWED  BOOKS  ARE  SUBJECT  TO  IMMEDIATE 
RECALL 


LIBRARY,  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  DAVIS 

Book  Slip-35m-7,'62(D296s4)458 


2760L1 


Hazelton,  G.C. 
Yellow  jacket, 


Hazel-bori 


Call  Number: 


A982 

Yl 

P535I5 
9 

V4 


276041 


